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Crews still mopping up extinguished scrapyard fire

By: Aldo Santin

Wednesday, Jun. 13, 2012 at 1:38 PM | Comments: 0

Helicopter drops water this morning. (KEN GIGLIOTTI/ WINNIPEG FREE PRESS)

The fire that burned all night in a metal scrapyard on the city's northeastern edge is all but out.

Springfield Fire Chief Dick Vlaming said the fire was effectively out by noon, when most of the firefighters were sent home.

About 20 firefighters remain at the site doing mop-up work.

"Everyone should be home by supper," Vlaming said.

Firefighters first arrived at General Scrap, opposite the Harbour View Golf Course and Recreation Complex, at about 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Vlaming said 60 volunteer firefighters from eight neighbouring rural departments were involved in the blaze at its peak, and a helicopter with a water bucket from Lac du Bonnet.

No one was hurt. The cause is unknown but investigators from the Office of the Fire Commissioner are at the site.

Vlaming -- a 27-year veteran of the Winnipeg Fire Department and 33 years with the RM of Springfield -- said this was probably the hardest fire he's had to deal with in his career.

"At one point, the fire was the size of a football field and 25 to 30 feet deep," Vlaming said. "The fire was imbedded deep within the scrapyard and very difficult to access.

"It was so hot, the scrap steel was turning into molten metal. The helicopter crew said the flame was white hot."

The grey-black smoke that drifted from the scene could be seen from several kilometres in all directions.

Provincial officials said the smoke did not pose a health hazard to nearby residents.

Don Labossiere, director of environmental operations for Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship, said the smoke wasn't a danger -- it was the particulate matter in the smoke that was toxic. He said weather conditions took the smoke, and the toxic particulate material, straight up and away from any residential areas.

Labossiere said tests will be conducted on the water run-off that was collected in a storm water retention pond located on the site. The pond water is self-contained and must be discharged, he said, adding however that won't happen until tests show that it is safe to do so.

aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca

History

Updated on Wednesday, June 13, 2012 at 12:56 PM CDT:
added new video

Updated on Wednesday, June 13, 2012 at 1:38 PM CDT:
Fire is out.

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