Fire causes ‘extensive damage’ to building at Everett composting facility

EVERETT, Wash. — A compost fire at a composting facility in Everett caused “extensive damage” to a building on Thursday night.

Firefighters were called after 7 p.m. to Cedar Grove Compost, located at 3600 36th Place Northeast, where plumes of smoke could be seen from several miles away.

The heavy smoke blanketed neighboring Marysville.

A spokesperson with Cedar Grove told KIRO 7 that the fire broke out at the tipping building, which is where trucks go to unload the materials they are hauling.

The spokesperson said no one was inside the facility when the fire started and that no one was hurt.

Fire officials said there were no explosions. However, once the main body of the fire was extinguished, heavy equipment was used to help with overhauling the fire, which crews seek out any hidden fires or address hot spots and stabilize the incident.

The spokesperson said the company was thankful for the quick response from fire crews.

A KIRO 7 crew at the scene did ask if the building was a total loss. The crew was told that it was too early to tell.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

It is not the first time Cedar Grove Compost has had issues.

Last summer a different fire at the same facility sent plumes of smoke into the air after woodchips caught fire.

In 2010, the company was fined under $120,000 for the smell coming from its facility. In response, the company invested about $6 million in equipment designed to control the smell.

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