Maine DEP Issues Air Quality Alert For Wednesday Following Tuesday Night’s Fire At Orrington Trash Plant

Experts in Maine are advising that if you can avoid being outside for long periods on Wednesday, you should. This warning follows a trash plant fire in Orrington on Tuesday night, which generated a significant amount of smoke and pollution in the area.

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Officials with the City of Bangor passed along a message from the Maine DEP to folks in the greater Bangor area via their social media accounts and website on Wednesday morning.

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"Please be aware that the state Department of Environmental Protection has issued an air quality alert for the Bangor area following a fire that began Tuesday evening at the Orrington trash plant, formerly known as the Eagle Point Energy Center. DEP says the fire has caused 'particle pollution levels to be very high in the Bangor area.'  Please use caution when considering outdoor activities today."

The Maine DEP website goes into even more detail, explaining exactly what it means when particle pollution is high:

"... If visibility is reduced or the smell of smoke is strong, please follow the Unhealthy Air Quality Index... People with heart or lung disease, older adults, those who work outdoors, teenagers, and children should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion and consider moving activities indoors or rescheduling. Everyone else should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion. Take more breaks during all outdoor activities."

While they said that there could be a reduction of such pollution during the day due to 'daytime mixing,' since the fire is still active, we could see those levels rise again.

This is not the first time the area has seen air quality health warnings due to fires at this particular plant.

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In October of 2024, residents of the region were asked to keep their windows closed after a fire broke out at the plant, sending smoke as far away as Hampden.

Fire crews from several towns have been working to extinguish the fire at Eagle Point Energy Center and will monitor the site for hot spots when they are able to get it extinguished.