The fire at Iowa scrap metal plant was an accident, says Police Chief

WASHINGTON (Scrap Monster) : The Blue Grass, Iowa authorities declared that the fire at Rich Metals on the 300 block of West Mayne Street, Blue Grass, Eastern Iowa last week was ruled an accident. According to Blue Grass Police Chief John Jensen, a worker was grinding metal when a spark or hot metal ignited a pile of metal turnings covered with oil.

The fire had broken out at the recycling plant around 9 a.m. Tuesday, February 11, 2014. Thick fumes of smoke were visible from three miles away. The fire led to explosion of tires and tanks.

It took several hours for the fire fighters from Blue Grass Fire Department to bring the fire under control. Bad weather disrupted the operation several times.

Fire officials had to evacuate students from a nearby elementary school.

According to company officials, no employee was in the building at the time of the fire. No one was injured.

The fire damaged the building completely. Rich Metals responded that the fire has caused huge loss, but the building will be rebuilt and operations will return to normal at the earliest.

Located in Davenport, Rich Metals Co. is a leading buyer, processor and recycler of ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metal.