Coal pile fire doused quickly
ERIE, Pa. (AP) – Firefighters were able to quickly extinguish a fire in a coal bin outside an Erie plant that has been targeted for air pollution violations.
Authorities say coal caught fire in an outside bin and the fire extended to a conveyor belt at Erie Coke Corp. Wednesday evening.
Nobody was hurt in the fire that was out in about 20 minutes.
The plant has come under fire from federal regulators in recent years because of air pollution.
The EPA and Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection sued the coke plant in September over alleged chronic air pollution violations. The company paid a $6.1 million state fine and agreed to spend $15 million over three years to bring the plant into compliance with Pennsylvania pollution laws.
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Information from: Erie Times-News, http://www.goerie.com
The Associated Press
01/13/11 09:41