BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Crews spent hours battling a two-alarm fire at Metalico Buffalo, a scrap metal recycling company on 127 Fillmore Ave.
There were dark, thick clouds of smoke coming from the property, which is near Buffalo’s Larkinville neighborhood.
No one was injured in the fire and Erie County hazmat officials did air quality tests telling 7 News there’s no cause for concern.
Michael Schwartz
The scrap pile was 20 to 30 feet high and covered about 100 square feet.
Workers left the site around noon, the fire started a few hours later, crews responded at 4:30pm.
You could see that smoke from all around the city, including the waterfront.
Ed Drantch
The heavy smoke could also be seen from as far as North Buffalo.
Kristen Mirand
It’s taken crews more than three hours to battle the flames because of hydrocarbons in the pile of scrap metal that fuel the fire.
“They get everything from lawn mowers to automobiles to motorcycles, they’re supposed to have the gas tanks and oil tanks drained completely, but I’m sure they get some of those vehicles that aren’t,” said Commissioner William Renaldo.
Some surrounding streets were closed while crews worked on containing the blaze.
Damage is estimated at $2 million, including some of the company’s equipment.