Fire at landfill

Ector County sheriff's deputies and Odessa Fire Department officials are still investigating an arson and theft of a safe at the Charter Waste Landfill, 12035 W. Murphy. Charter is a private facility owned by Charter Waste Management from Florida.

"I got a call about 2:30 in the morning that the office was on fire," general manager Glenn Knowles said.

According to the Odessa Fire Marshal's office, officials battled the blaze for about four hours. The West Odessa Volunteer Fire Department also responded.

Knowles said at least one person broke in and took the safe, which had an undetermined amount of money. He could not place a value on the building. According to Sgt. Gary Duesler of the sheriff's department, investigators believe a person took a front end loader and drove it into the landfill's office. The loader then was used to break open the safe. After opening the safe, the building was set on fire.

The office mainly contained papers like office records. He said the company had already set up a temporary office trailer with power. An AT&T truck stood ready to hook up phones in the office.

"We already have them for emergency situations. We can't shut down, for we take care of garbage for a 250-mile radius," Knowles said.

Hauler Mike Edwards traveled from Alpine to the landfill, arriving about 7 a.m. only to sit and wait until the dump opened at around 9:30 a.m. Edwards and three Odessa Public Works vehicles stayed until the facility opened.

"I was pretty shocked. It was certainly very unusual, but they are working to get us up and going," Edwards said. Edwards said he hauls mostly construction waste and has to travel to Charter since it is the closest facility to Alpine. He said he typically makes two trips a day, driving around 500 miles total. 

Ector County sheriff's deputies and Odessa Fire Department officials are still investigating an arson and theft of a safe at the Charter Waste Landfill, 12035 W. Murphy. Charter is a private facility owned by Charter Waste Management from Florida.

"I got a call about 2:30 in the morning that the office was on fire," general manager Glenn Knowles said.

According to OFD, officials battled the blaze for about four hours. The West Odessa Volunteer Fire Department also responded.

Knowles said at least one person broke in and took the safe. According to Sgt. Gary Duesler of the sheriff's department, investigators believe a person took a front end loader and drove it into the landfill's office. The loader then was used to break open the safe. After taking the safe's money, the building was set on fire. Duesler said dollar estimates for the safe's contents and office building are not being made public.

The office mainly contained papers like office records. He said the company had already set up a temporary office trailer with power. An AT&T truck stood ready to hook up phones in the office.

"We already have them for emergency situations. We can't shut down, for we take care of garbage for a 250-mile radius," Knowles said.

Hauler Mike Edwards traveled from Alpine to the landfill, arriving about 7 a.m. only to sit and wait until the dump opened at around 9:30 a.m. Edwards and three Odessa Public Works vehicles stayed until the facility opened.

"I was pretty shocked. It was certainly very unusual, but they are working to get us up and going," Edwards said. Edwards said he hauls mostly construction waste and has to travel to Charter since it is the closest facility to Alpine. He said he typically makes two trips a day, driving around 500 miles total.

TIPS

>> The Ector County Sheriff's Department encourages those with information regarding the arson and theft to contact the office at 335-3050 or CrimeStoppers at 335-TIPS.