UPDATED: Firefighters Continue To Battle Blaze At Metal Recycling Center

UPDATE: Fire In Large Scrap Pile Mostly Extinguished By Friday

UPDATED: 8:21 p.m., Thursday:

Firefighters from around Lower Bucks County and Mercer County, New Jersey spent Thursday afternoon and evening fight a stubborn blaze inside a large pile of scrap metal.

As of 8 p.m., firefighters continued to pour water from ladder trucks and the ground on the large pile as heavy equipment pulled pieces of scrap, including crushed cars, apart.

Falls Township Fire Company Deputy Chief Drew Zeek said the hot weather and wind hasn’t helped crews fighting the flames.

The fire was reported around 12:35 p.m. and quickly spread through the large pile at Mazza Iron and Steel recycling center on Solar Drive in the Keystone Trade Center complex.

“Most of the fire is seated down deep in the pile,” Zeek said.

The flames were contained to the large pile and some smaller ones, but they didn’t damage any buildings or other equipment.

Fire Marshal Rich Dippolito said the cause wasn’t certain as of evening.

No serious injuries were reported.

In addition to engine and ladder trucks from across Lower Bucks County and some from neighboring New Jersey, tanker trucks were called to the scene to carry water to firefighters.

Zeek said the size of the fire and scale of the firefighting effort meant there was limited water supply, requiring tankers to assist by bringing in more water.

The fire let off a massive pillar of smoke throughout the afternoon. The smoke could be scene from as far away as Center City in Philadelphia.

Fire crews are expected to be at the scene well into the night as they continue their effort to put out the flames.

In June 2012, the nearby SIMS Metal Management facility had a large scrap metal fire that took hours to battle and send a large plume of smoke into the evening sky.

The Keystone Trade Center is currently undergoing a massive redevelopment as a logistics center and was previously owned by U.S. Steel, which still operates a smaller-than-years-ago finishing facility.

Original Post:

A massive plume of smoke was visible from as far away as Northeast Philadelphia as firefighters fought a fire at a Falls Township metal recycling center.

Firefighters were first called to the Mazza Iron and Steel recycling center on Solar Drive in the Keystone Trade Center complex around 12:35 p.m. Thursday for a report of a rubbish fire.

Crews discovered the fire in the piles of scrap at the steel recycling site and began to work to extinguish the flames.

As of 2 p.m., firefighters were still at work dousing the fire as the smoke poured from the scene.

Ladder trucks were deployed to get water on the flames from above, and tanker trucks from as far away Upper Makefield and Wrightstown townships were ferrying water to the scene.

The site sits about 4 miles from both the center of Morrrisville Borough and Tullytown Borough, and only about a mile from populated sections of Bordentown, New Jersey.

Mazza Iron and Steel posted on their website that they specialize in scrap metal recycling, dismantling, demolition, junk vehicle recycling, and plant clean outs. They serve customers in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware.

Fires at scrap metal facilities aren’t unheard of, but large ones in the area are rare.

In June 2012, the nearby SIMS Metal Management facility had a large scrap metal fire that took hours to battle and send a large plume of smoke into the evening sky.

The Keystone Trade Center is currently undergoing a massive redevelopment as a logistics center and was previously owned by U.S. Steel, which still operates a smaller-than-years-ago finishing facility.

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