TAYLOR. YEAH. THE SMOKE IS STILL IN THE AIR HERE IN PENN TOWNSHIP. NOW, BEHIND ME IS THE PENRYN FIRE COMPANY. THEY WERE IN CHARGE THE VERY FIRST DAY WHEN THAT FIRE STARTED ON DECEMBER 6TH. UNFORTUNATELY, THEY GOT THAT FIRST FIRE COMPLETELY OUT. BUT ANOTHER FIRE CAME IN ON A DIFFERENT DAY. AFTER NEARLY A MONTH OF BURNING AT A&M COMPOSTING IN PENN TOWNSHIP, RESIDENTS FRUSTRATIONS CONTINUE AFTER CREWS RUSHED BACK TO THE SITE LATE LAST NIGHT. THIS NEARBY RESIDENT HAS ASKED TO STAY ANONYMOUS, BUT SAYS HER CONCERNS REMAIN AFTER SHE’S BEEN BREATHING IN. WHAT SHE SAYS IS SMOKE THAT SMELLS LIKE HUMAN WASTE. IT HASN’T STOPPED. IT’S BEEN BURNING THE WHOLE TIME. NOT ONE TIME DID WE LOOK AND NOT SEE ANY SMOKE? SMOKE THAT, SHE SAYS SOME DAYS CAN BE SEEN FOR MILES. WE HAD SOMEBODY THAT WAS ON THE TURNPIKE COMING HOME AND THEY WERE LIKE, IT IS SO BAD YOU CAN’T EVEN SEE, LIKE RIGHT THERE. IT’S DRIVING. IT WAS THAT WAS LIKE TOWARDS THE BEGINNING WHEN IT WAS REALLY BAD, REALLY THICK SMOKE AND EVEN IMPACTED HER HOLIDAYS. IT STINKS BAD. I MEAN, FOR CHRISTMAS YOU HAVE PEOPLE OVER AND THEY HAVE TO SMELL THAT SMELL. PA SENATOR JAMES MALONE, WHO COVERS PART OF LANCASTER COUNTY, HAS VISITED THE SITE AND SAYS A&M COMPOSTING IS WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION. THEY HAVE FOLKS ON SITE, THEY HAVE AIR QUALITY TESTERS TO CHECK THE CARBON MONOXIDE LEVELS, OXYGEN LEVELS, TOXINS, WHAT HAVE YOU OUTSIDE AND INSIDE, SENATOR MALONE SAYS THE FIRE STARTED WITH A PILE OF WOOD CHIPS ON DECEMBER 6TH, AND HE WANTS RESIDENTS TO KNOW THIS. WE REALLY. WANT TO BE SURE THAT PEOPLE DO KNOW THAT WE DID HEAR THEIR FRUSTRATION. THAT’S BEEN A BIT OF AN ORDEAL FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED, BUT THEY ARE WORKING AT IT, AND I HAVE ALSO BEEN OUT TO THE PENN TOWNSHIP ADMINISTRATION, TALKED WITH THE FIRE CHIEF JUST TO GET A REALLY GOOD SENSE OF WHAT EVERYONE’S DEALING WITH. DO YOU HAVE ANY MORE CONCERNS? REACH OUT TO HIS OFFICE. REPRESENTATIVE MINDY PHE OR THE PENN TOWNSHIP PENN TOWNSHIP OFFICE. YOU CAN ALSO FIND A LINK TO THE FULL TIMELINE OF WHAT EXACTLY HAS HAPPENED ON THAT SITE ON OUR WEBSITE AT WGAL.CO
‘Foul smelling smoke’ from a Lancaster county business continues to frustrate residents
Updated: 10:18 PM EST Jan 1, 2026
Editorial Standards
In Penn Township, Lancaster County, residents are expressing frustration over persistent smoke and odor from a fire at A&M Composting that started on Dec. 6 and continues to affect the area nearly a month later.Resident frustrationA nearby resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said, “It hasn’t stopped. It’s been burning the whole time. Not one time did we look and not see any smoke.”The resident described the smoke as sometimes visible for miles, adding, “We had somebody that was on the turnpike coming home, and they were like, it is so bad you can’t even see like right there. That was like towards the beginning when it was really bad, really thick smoke.”The resident also noted the impact on her holidays, stating, “It stinks bad. I mean, for Christmas, you have people over, and now you have to smell that smell.”A smell that has been described as human waste.Lawmaker reactionPennsylvania Sen. James Malone, who represents part of Lancaster County, visited the site and said A&M Composting is working with the Department of Environmental Protection.”They have folks on site. They had air quality testers to check the carbon monoxide levels, oxygen levels, you know, those kinds of things, toxins, outside and inside,” Malone said.Sen. Malone explained that the fire originated from a pile of wood chips and acknowledged the community’s concerns, saying, “We really want to be sure that people do know that we did hear their frustration.” He added, “It’s been a bit of an ordeal for everyone involved, but they are working at it. And I have also been out to the Penn Township administration. I spoke with the fire chief, just to get a really good sense of what everyone’s dealing with.”Sen. Malone encourages residents with further concerns to reach out to Penn Township, his office, or Rep. Mindy Fee.For a full timeline of events, you can visit this website. https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dep/about-dep/regional-office-locations/southcentral-regional-office/southcentral-community-information/a-and-m-composting-fire
In Penn Township, Lancaster County, residents are expressing frustration over persistent smoke and odor from a fire at A&M Composting that started on Dec. 6 and continues to affect the area nearly a month later.
Resident frustration
A nearby resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said, “It hasn’t stopped. It’s been burning the whole time. Not one time did we look and not see any smoke.”
The resident described the smoke as sometimes visible for miles, adding, “We had somebody that was on the turnpike coming home, and they were like, it is so bad you can’t even see like right there. That was like towards the beginning when it was really bad, really thick smoke.”
The resident also noted the impact on her holidays, stating, “It stinks bad. I mean, for Christmas, you have people over, and now you have to smell that smell.”
A smell that has been described as human waste.
Lawmaker reaction
Pennsylvania Sen. James Malone, who represents part of Lancaster County, visited the site and said A&M Composting is working with the Department of Environmental Protection.
“They have folks on site. They had air quality testers to check the carbon monoxide levels, oxygen levels, you know, those kinds of things, toxins, outside and inside,” Malone said.
Sen. Malone explained that the fire originated from a pile of wood chips and acknowledged the community’s concerns, saying, “We really want to be sure that people do know that we did hear their frustration.” He added, “It’s been a bit of an ordeal for everyone involved, but they are working at it. And I have also been out to the Penn Township administration. I spoke with the fire chief, just to get a really good sense of what everyone’s dealing with.”
Sen. Malone encourages residents with further concerns to reach out to Penn Township, his office, or Rep. Mindy Fee.
For a full timeline of events, you can visit this website. https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dep/about-dep/regional-office-locations/southcentral-regional-office/southcentral-community-information/a-and-m-composting-fire
