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Charles Co. firefighters put out tricky underground plant fire

Volunteer firefighters put out a small but tricky underground fire at a power plant in southern Charles County.
Credit: Rogers, Susan
Charles County volunteer firefighters work to put out a small but tricky underground fire at the GENON Coal Facility in Newburg, MD.

NEWBURG, Md. (WUSA9) — Firefighters were able to put out a small but tricky underground fire at a power plant in southern Charles County early Wednesday morning.

According to Bill Smith, spokesman for the Charles County Volunteer Fire Department, a 3rd shift worker at the GENON Coal Facility located in the 12600 block of Crain Highway, reported the fire in an underground coal hopper train car around 2:30 a.m. Smith says the train cars move coal underground to conveyor belts that lift the coal to above ground silos.

Approximately 19 firefighters responded to the scene and worked to douse the flames, which were difficult to safely access and extinguish, Smith said.

Plant management were notified, and no injuries have been reported.

Smith Tweeted firefighters were able to bring the fire under control and wrap up operations around 5:40 a.m.

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