Massive Fire Breaks Out on Schnitzer Steel Barge in Canada

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): A barge owned by Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc., caught fire in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. According to media reports, the massive fire broke out around 5 PM Oct 9, 2018. The fire send massive plume of black smoke to entire Metro Vancouver area. No injuries were reported, though.

It took approximately eight hours to completely extinguish the fire. The firefighters had to remove upper levels of the load so as to put out fire that had reached deeper levels, sources indicated.

According to Schnitzer Steel, Canada officials, the barge was loaded with crushed auto bodies and assorted light iron materials. The auto parts were drained of fluids and properly processed for end of life. The cause of the fire is unknown, they said. The blaze is not believed to have adversely impacted air or water quality, it added.

The company announced that it is presently working in tandem with all applicable agencies, including environmental agencies to determine the cause of the fire. It will make necessary adjustments to policies and procedures so as to ensure that such risks are reduced in future. While thanking responders for their prompt and effective action to put out the fire, it assured that safety of operations will be given top priority.

This is the second fire incident at the site during this year. Earlier in August, a Schnitzer Steel barge carrying scrap metal had caught fire, triggering air-quality warning for Metro Vancouver, due to the thick black smoke coming from the fire.