Large fire at Fort Worth scrap-metal yard contained early Saturday: fire department
The Fort Worth Fire Department continues to investigate the large blaze at Texas Industrial Scrap Metal that began Friday afternoon and went on until early Saturday.
Fire crews were called to the metal recycling business, located at 3800 N. Commerce St., at 2:15 p.m. Friday in response to the heavy fire.
Video from a WFAA-TV helicopter showed massive flames and plumes of black smoke rising from the area, which could be seen from miles away.
The fire was completely contained by 4:17 a.m. Saturday, the fire department said in an update on X. The cause of the fire is not yet known.
Shortly after 2:15pm on Friday afternoon, the Fort Worth Fire Department was dispatched to a large fire at the Texas Industrial Scrap Metal yard in the 3800 block of North Commerce Street.
Responding my crews found heavy, black smoke and flames coming from the large scrap yard.… pic.twitter.com/ibybwCDlE3— Fort Worth Fire Department (@FortWorthFire) August 17, 2024
Fire crews were seen working to extinguish the fire from a pile of scrap metal while the company’s employees were operating cranes to remove debris to prevent its spread.
Firefighters remained on scene Friday night to put out hot spots.
The department’s investigators were at the scene to conduct a preliminary investigation into the cause of the fire, said fire department spokesperson Craig Trojacek.
Two firefighters were injured but are expected to make full recoveries, according to the fire department’s update. Medics also responded to the scene to provide IV fluids as needed as firefighters worked in the searing heat, Trojacek said in a media briefing on Friday.
Fire crews were also patrolling the city due to two other fires — a commercial fire and residential fire in east Fort Worth — that occurred earlier Friday, said Trojacek.
Heat and triple-digit temperatures are possible factors in the cause of the fires, but cannot yet be confirmed, according to Trojacek.
Over 175 firefighters responded to the scene with temperatures close to 106 degrees and an excessive heat warning in place, the update says.
The fire crews that responded to the metal recycling company had just returned from assisting River Oaks authorities with a commercial-structure fire, according to the update.
The Fire Department urged people nearby to stay inside their homes as crews actively worked the fire. No air quality alerts have currently been issued.
🚨 More top stories from our newsroom:
→ 3 adults, 2 children killed in crash on I-35W
→ Petition for removal of TCU basketball star Sedona Prince
→ ‘His legacy will never die:’ Sgt. Billy Randolph honored at funeral
[Get our breaking news alerts.]