SANFORD —Firefighters coped with high winds and frigid temperatures Monday night as they battled a fire in a building at the transfer station at 81 Rushton St.

No one was injured, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The transfer station’s “swap shop” ”“ a 10-by-16-foot, metal-sided structure where residents place unwanted items to give away ”“ was on fire and partially collapsed when firefighters arrived at the scene.

Capt. Brian Watkins said this morning that firefighters were called to the transfer station at about 9:38 p.m. and remained there until just before 11 p.m.

Watkins said the swap shop was fully involved in fire when firefighters arrived. Fanned by the wind, embers from that fire jumped to a nearby storage shed where used batteries turned in by residents were stored, he said.

Watkins said firefighters had to watch for flying metal siding from the swap shop that was picked up by the wind and tossed across the yard, and for ice underfoot ”“ the ground began to resemble a skating rink as firefighters applied water to the burning buildings.

Sanford Fire Department investigator Capt. Brian Smith remained on the scene with Sanford police after the blaze was extinguished to comb through the rubble to try to determine the cause, Watkins said.

Station coverage was provided by Lebanon, Alfred, Kennebunk and Wells fire departments.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.