Bill Williams is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media prompt action by employees at Peckham Industries in Athens stopped a fire before it went out of control January 25, Athens Fire Chief Wayne Butterworth said. At approximately 2:25 p.m., Monday, Greene County 911 sent the Athens and West Athens-Limestreet Fire companies to Peckham terminal on Union Street, after the company reported a liquid asphalt tank was on fire, with flames and black smoke showing, Butterworth said. Before firefighters arrived, an alert employee took action and shut down the affected equipment, thereby extinguishing the fire, Butterworth said. The blaze was located in the exhaust system. No injuries occurred during the incident, the chief said. Liquid asphalt cement is a refined petroleum product that gives blacktop its characteristic color, according to the Peckham Industries website. Peckham operates three liquid asphalt terminals — in Athens, the Bronx and Bridgeport, Connecticut. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.