Residents in Orrington and Hampden should keep their windows closed today following a major fire in an industrial building filled with decomposing trash, according to the local fire department.

Orrington Fire & Rescue received a call for an explosion and fire at 29 Industrial Way about 8:20 p.m. Tuesday.

When firefighters arrived, they saw fire burning through the roof of the 200 by 400-foot steel building, formerly known as the Penobscot Energy Recovery Company.

Fire crews from Brewer, Bangor, Holden, Eddington, Dedham, Hampden, Hermon, Levant and Bucksport responded. Fire suppression efforts continue today from the exterior because the building is unstable.

“At this time, we are unable to safely get personnel or equipment into the building to begin interior suppression efforts or to begin removing the nearly 40-foot-high pile of decomposing trash due to the structural instability of the building,” according to a news release from Assistant Fire Chief Chad Bean.

Orrington fire is working with the town, Department of Environmental Protection and Penobscot County Emergency Management to get the fire out.

Bean said that it is “creating a significant environmental hazard” and that air monitoring stations will be set up in Orrington and Hampden.

In a statement, DEP indicated that it "did not know of any specific human health or air quality impacts at this time" but it did say there is significant smoke in the area.

The department advised staying inside away from the smoke, closing windows and doors and turning off air conditioners.

People with heart and lung disease may be affected and should seek medical attention if they have difficulty breathing, according to DEP.

The agency has asked the Environmental Protection Agency to help with air monitoring and says it will release sampling results as soon as they are available.