Large Fire at Watson Recycling North of Rochester
The fire department worked with hand lines to extinguish the fire until around 3 p.m.
SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Heavy smoke poured into the air during a fire at Watson Recycling on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024.
The Pine Island Fire Department reported “heavy black smoke and flames” from a pile of recycling material in the company’s yard around 9:15 a.m. Monday, according to a statement from the fire department. The company, north of 75th Street along U.S. Highway 52, recycles scrap metal from aluminum cans and copper as well as steel and scrap vehicles.
The fire department worked with hand lines to extinguish the fire until around 3 p.m.
The fire is believed to have started due to lithium-ion batteries, which are not permitted at Watson’s Recycling, according to the statement. The company asks people to contact Olmsted County Recycling to dispose of lithium-ion batteries.
“The greatest challenges were the wind that was pushing flames and that the fire department had to transport water to the scene,” said the statement from Pine Island Fire Department second assistant chief and secretary David Friese. The Oronoco Fire Department also assisted with the water supply.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources rated fire danger in Oronoco as “very high” for Monday. A controlled burn scheduled at Assisi Heights was also canceled due to the high winds. The National Weather Service reported winds of 10 to 15 mph with gusts of 30 mph.
The fire did not spread to a nearby building. No one was injured at the scene. The monetary damages are “limited,” according to the statement.
Courtesy: www.postbulletin.com
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