WILKES-BARRE, Pa. — Fire ripped through a scrapyard in Wilkes-Barre on Monday afternoon.
Heavy smoke and flames could be seen throughout the city as fire tore through Bielecki Scrap and Recycling Center.
The fire started around 1:30 p.m. at the facility off North Pennsylvania Avenue.
Wilkes-Barre Fire Chief Jay Delaney says this all started as a small grass fire that spread quickly because of the wind.
"The wind here was absolutely terrible," said Chief Delaney. "It just took the fire away. It was hot. It was dangerous. and we had to get a lot of water on it."
It took about two and a half hours to get the fire under control. The chief says what made matters worse was this scrapyard was filled with things like cardboard, propane tanks, and other things that continue to feed that fire.
The fire had to be fought from the ground and from the sky as flames made their way into buildings on the property.
The flames produced so much heat it burned through utility poles
Luzerne County EMA and the Pennsylvania DEP were both called in by the fire department for air quality concerns.
"We did have a concern with the products of combustion, and we called them in to monitor. So far, all the results they've given back to us are within safe limits," Delaney said.
Hours later, crews continued to pour water on the property to keep the fire under control.
"The roof came down on the first floor, and a tank kicked down so we can't get to too much more of the fire until we pull the building apart, and then we'll get into the seat of it and try to get it fully extinguished," the chief added.