Able Contracting Fire Site Information
The Able Contracting facility is located on Schinger Avenue in Ridgeland, South Carolina. The facility received construction and demolition debris which was shredded as recyclable materials were removed. The Site contains approximately 4 acres of stockpiled material.
The current fire of the stockpiled material began in early July 2019. Able Contracting and local fire departments have worked to extinguish the fire. On July 23, a large water supply pump used by the facility for firefighting was damaged by lightning. Smoke from the smoldering fire continued to increase over the next several days.
The EPA was requested by South Carolina Department Health and Environmental Control (SC DHEC) to conduct air monitoring and sampling to determine if any hazardous substances were being discharged from the smoldering fire. The EPA and Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team (START) contractors deployed to the Site on July 25. Water quality monitoring and samples were also collected in ditches and a nearby pond.
Ambient air sampling was conducted on July 27th and 28th as close to the smoke plume as possible and downwind of the closest residential property. Samples were analyzed for volatile organic compounds, semivolatile organic compounds, formaldehyde, phosgene, metals, and asbestos. Air sampling was conducted again on August 2nd and 3rd to confirm the presence of hazardous substances measured in the previous round of sampling.
Jasper County evacuated residents closest to the fire and began providing alternative housing arrangements. The EPA remobilized to the Site and began 24hr air monitoring on August 9. SC DHEC mobilized a response contractor who began water application on August 11 and aggressive firefighting operations with heavy equipment on August 12. The EPA assumed the lead for relocation of residents and aggressive firefighting operations on August 16.
Additional information about this response is available at the following locations:
EPA Webpage on the Site news, updates, and latest information
EPA daily air monitoring data will be posted in the Documents section of this webpage
EPA photos, maps and monitoring locations
SC DHEC Webpage on the Site news, updates, and latest information
SC DHEC live monitoring data
