by Megan Cloherty

WASHINGTON – Firefighters responded to a large 2-alarm fire at a recycling center in Gaithersburg near the Montgomery County air park just after 8 p.m. Thursday. No one was injured.

Firefighters found large bundles of recycled paper causing a “substantial fire,” said Assistant Chief Scott Graham.

“With large bundles of paper there’s going to be a lot of extensive overhaul and removal of paper from the building,” Graham said.

Because of the amount of smoke, debris and possible fuel for the fire at the recycle center, the Montgomery County Fire Department called in extra help.

Using an airboat to help remove the thick smoke from the structure, firefighters worked to control the burning debris by removing it with front-end loaders, according to Graham.

There is no start or cause for the fire. An investigation is underway.

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