Woonsocket Fire Department Called To Ventilation Fire At Stericycle

A ventilation fire inside the biological waste disposal unit at Stericycle on Park East Drive drew the entire this morning, requiring mutual aid from area departments most of the day.

Several firefighters, some sporting hazardous materials suits, were camped outside the 396 Park East Drive address until about 3:30 p.m.

Deputy Chief Ron Girard said a fire began in an air filter inside the building's biological waste disposal unit, which separates, grinds and heats medical waste such as that disposed of in medical sharps containers. The process, Girard said, generates particles of varying size that are filtered out of the air in the processing section of the building. The fire began in one of the filters, he said. Girard said it wasn't immediately clear what started the fire. He said the call came in at about 10:52 a.m., and occupied the majority of the department's personnel. Area departments covered the city while they dealt with the fire at Stericycle, he said.

There was no damage to the building, and no injuries, Girard said.

Girard said the protective suits were needed because of the biological nature of the waste processed in the building, which required a complicated and meticulous response. "You've got a chance to catch anything here," he said.

Girard said the Woonsocket Fire Department Entry Team checked out the building and put out the fire, while the North Providence Decontamination Team stood by to handle any exposure to hazardous waste.

Both ends of the street were blocked, and two hazardous materials trailers, the Providence Canteen truck, five fire engines including Engines 3, 5 and 4 and a ladder truck were camped out in front of the medical waste business until about 3:30 p.m.

Girard said a few men from the department will remain at the facility for a few hours to monitor carbon monoxide levels, which were high due to the fire.