* Wednesday August 14, 2019  
This page will be updated regularly as information becomes available. 

Latest Update

DHEC’s contractors are continuing aggressive firefighting and material disposal operations. Activities include: excavating, spreading and dousing material from the southwest corner of the site. As of early afternoon today, 36 truck loads of material were transported offsite for disposal. Water continues to be sprayed on isolated smoky areas.

Additional particulate air sensors have been deployed in nearby populated areas. Overnight, a southern wind pushed smoke northward. The water applied to the pile overnight did reduce smoke emissions. Flames were observed in the early morning hours and were extinguished by onsite personnel.

The EPA has established a web page for this response: https://www.epa.gov/superfund/able-contracting-fire. 

Smoke forecast for Thursday, August 15, 2019:

A light wind from the south to southwest direction should continue to move the Able fire smoke plume generally in a northerly direction on Thursday. With a moist atmosphere, smoke trapping should be minimal, but times of smoke are possible in the vicinity of Rivers End Subdivision and near the intersection of Argent Blvd and Okatie Hwy. Smoke should dissipate by late morning hours Thursday. Locations closest to the Able Contracting Recycling facility along Schinger Avenue are more likely to experience smoke at any given time.

The Smoke Forecast Hotline has been established to provide the daily forecast and allow community members to leave messages if they have additional questions. The Smoke Forecast Hotline phone number is 803-898-4262 or 1-800‐204-1842.  

For media inquiries: media@dhec.sc.gov.
For other inquiries: ablefire@dhec.sc.gov.