EPA: Making progress at Attica pile

ATTICA, N.Y. (WIVB) - The EPA says efforts to extinguish smoldering fires inside the giant pile of recyclable materials at Hillcrest Industries in Attica is going well.

Efforts began this weekend to put out the flames causing a horrendous odor to permeate the air throughout the town. The EPA has crews breaking down the 40-foot, 1-acre pile into smaller sections and then spraying foam/water on the material to extinguish the fires.

According to real-time monitoring, the EPA says levels of toxic compounds are very low and were not detected at the school.

Crews will continue to work 12-hour shifts during the day, suspending night operations. The EPA says steam and mist from the pile makes working under artificial light difficult.