ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — St. Pete Fire Rescue crews said they have "successfully extinguished" the large scrap metal fire that broke out Thursday afternoon at a recycling center.
The fire started just before 2 p.m. in a pile of Hurricane Milton debris at the Aceros America St Pete recycling center on 30th Avenue North near 26th Street North.
"While the cause of the fire remains under investigation, early reports suggest that the presence of hurricane debris including appliances with flammable insulation, motors, and batteries may have contributed to the ignition of the fire," crews said in a Thursday night update.
The fire caused roads to shutdown from Morris Street to 28th Street and from 30th Avenue to 26th Avenue as crews battled the blaze. As of 9 p.m., officials said all surrounding streets have reopened.
People living in the nearby Ponce De Leon neighborhood had to evacuate due to the large amounts of smoke, but that order has been lifted as of Thursday night.
There were no injuries or reported losses to any structures, St. Pete Fire Rescue said.
Photos show a pile of metal scraps, appliances and debris on fire and a large plume of black smoke.
“I know it's a big plume of smoke that’s in the air and a lot of people can see, especially from the interstate, but we are definitely taking care of it," Fire Rescue Captain Garth Swingle said. "It’s just so much debris and it’s so deep in there, it’s gonna take a lot of time and a lot of water."
Fire crews said power lines were also affected by the fire but did not say if services will be impacted.
Officials said in a statement: "This incident serves as a critical reminder of the importance of properly sorting debris to prevent hazardous materials from reaching recycling centers."
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
