Portland firefighters maintain watch at site of landfill fire

PORTLAND – Firefighters remained at a landfill Wednesday as a fire continued to smolder.

Flames shot up 30 feet into the air at the height of the fire the night before, and firefighters from South Portland, Gorham, Scarborough, Windham and Westbrook assisted Portland crews.

The fire was brought under control late Tuesday and firefighters remained on the scene Wednesday to prevent the fire from breaking out again.

Officials brought in bulldozers to move the mountain of debris, which was 100 feet wide, 400 feet long and 30 feet wide. Firefighters tried to soak everything so the smoldering embers would not rekindle a blaze.

Portland Fire Chief Martin J. Jordan spotted the fire as he drove home around 5 p.m. and called in the alarm. His call was the first firefighters heard of the blaze. “I’m surprised nobody called it in,” he said.

Other departments helped by providing hose needed to reach the flames and providing backup to Portland fire stations. “It was beyond our capabilities,” said Deputy Fire Chief Tom Blaisdell.