Investigators: Fire at Orange County transfer station sparked by dozens of discarded torches

Authorities say roughly 30 discarded boxes with Airlighter torches inside caught fire while an excavator claw was handling a pile of dumped material that they were in.

Blaise Gomez

Aug 22, 2023, 5:28 PM

Updated 339 days ago

Share:

Investigators say a 2-alarm fire Tuesday morning at Orange County’s transfer station in Goshen was caused by discarded torches.  
News 12 was given video by county officials that showed the flames as it fully engulfed two bays on Training Center Lane around 9:20 a.m.
Authorities say roughly 30 discarded boxes with Airlighter torches inside caught fire while an excavator claw was handling a pile of dumped material that they were in.
Fire officials say the torches were not supposed to be discarded at the facility. 
Other people dumping off trash and building employees had to be evacuated during the fire. 
“The fire was already too advanced for them to attempt to extinguish it, so they evacuated and everyone was out on our arrival," said Goshen Fire Chief Dan Graham. 
Graham says a nearby hydrant wasn’t working and that a dozen mutual aid companies responded - several of them with water tankers.
Hazmat was also on the scene but did not find any contamination, according to county officials. 
Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus says that the building does not appear to have significant fire damage due to its metal frame construction but that an inspection will be done to confirm the structure is sound. 
No one was injured and the transfer station was reopened on Tuesday afternoon.


More from News 12
1:52
Hudson Valley doctors warn of listeria dangers following multi-state outbreak

Hudson Valley doctors warn of listeria dangers following multi-state outbreak

2:04
Sunny skies and warm temps for Saturday in the Hudson Valley

Sunny skies and warm temps for Saturday in the Hudson Valley

0:38
Multimillion-dollar transformation on the way for sections of Hudson Valley

Multimillion-dollar transformation on the way for sections of Hudson Valley

0:49
New basketball documentary film 'The Process' has ties to Westchester

New basketball documentary film 'The Process' has ties to Westchester

0:49
Olympic watch party in Pomona cheers on Rockland athletes

Olympic watch party in Pomona cheers on Rockland athletes

0:32
Veteran firefighter who suffered stroke receives warm welcome home

Veteran firefighter who suffered stroke receives warm welcome home

0:17
Yorktown police sergeant celebrates final walkout following 2 decades of service

Yorktown police sergeant celebrates final walkout following 2 decades of service

1:40
Lithium-ion battery fire blamed for closure of Newburgh tailor shop

Lithium-ion battery fire blamed for closure of Newburgh tailor shop

0:52
Slate Hill family of 5 loses home in afternoon blaze

Slate Hill family of 5 loses home in afternoon blaze

0:37
2 people charged in Middletown narcotics; firearms bust

2 people charged in Middletown narcotics; firearms bust

1:30
Motorcycle, van crash in Greenburgh causes serious injuries

Motorcycle, van crash in Greenburgh causes serious injuries

0:56
News 12 probes mystery cloud traced to Orange County & seen throughout tri-state area

News 12 probes mystery cloud traced to Orange County & seen throughout tri-state area

1:02
Hillcrest Fire Department receives 2,000 cans of drinking water, courtesy of Anheuser-Busch

Hillcrest Fire Department receives 2,000 cans of drinking water, courtesy of Anheuser-Busch

1:37
Storm Watch Team Meteorologist Skyler Harman strikes down lightning myths

Storm Watch Team Meteorologist Skyler Harman strikes down lightning myths

2:33
Can swimming become dangerous due to extremely high water surface temperatures?

Can swimming become dangerous due to extremely high water surface temperatures?

0:32
NYC officials: Westchester caseworker’s death ruled a homicide

NYC officials: Westchester caseworker’s death ruled a homicide

0:40
State, federal lawmakers introduce legislation to shorten funding gap for World Trade Center Health Program

State, federal lawmakers introduce legislation to shorten funding gap for World Trade Center Health Program

0:34
Ex Frito-Lay employee files defamation lawsuit against PepsiCo claiming he invented ‘Flamin’ Hot Cheetos

Ex Frito-Lay employee files defamation lawsuit against PepsiCo claiming he invented ‘Flamin’ Hot Cheetos

0:40
Executive orders still in place preventing Rockland County and Orange County hotels from converting into migrant shelters

Executive orders still in place preventing Rockland County and Orange County hotels from converting into migrant shelters

0:34
Finger in salad lawsuit against Chop’t discontinued

Finger in salad lawsuit against Chop’t discontinued