Scrap Yard Fire

A good deal I had with a buyer has gone up in flames...literally. It was reported in the news that my scrap buyer (and the only scrap buyer that I know of that purchases from the general public) has a fire (still on-going at of 5:00PM HST; fire started 12-hours earlier at 5:00AM) at their lot. In fact, we can see the smoke from the house 30 minutes away. From the sounds and looks of it, seems pretty bad. I really hope they can recover. With the low scrap prices and all I'm not sure if they'll survive this one.

Firefighters battle scrap metal fire at recycling center | KHON2

our county recycling center/incenerator burned here a few years ago been rebuilt. over a million in damages.

Sounds like it is.mostly contained to the scrap pile and no buildings or equipment are involved.

I would think the biggest concern would be the government scrutiny that is sure to follow. I hope they can survive that.

I lived for almost 10 years in Hawaii,loved it but its almost a different country. Mike

I am sorry about the loss to both you and the business. Since it is contained within the scrap pile, I wonder what is in their steel that is flammable, especially since it has been burning for over 12 hrs. At least it will purify the steel. I cannot imagine a scrap yard that has that much flammable material in their scrap pile.

My guess is the investigation will highlight the need to separate the steel from the flammable materials in the future, an easy fix. The general public might have to meet new requirements for separation. Beyond that I do not see a major impact on the yard. Of course they will have a bill from fire departments to pay for, but beyond that the financial consequences will be limited. In addition, your location in regard to Asia ensures a market. Please keep us posted.

Patriot, that sized pile, it might contain a lot of plastic? You know how hot plastic burns and there might be tirers in the pile as well.

NA and Otto thank you for the heads up. The yard I use requires visible holes and no fluids in anything. They are within 40 yds. of a creek. Vehicles are unloaded in one spot and tires are immediately separated and stored separate. All plastic is thrown in another area, large pieces of metal sheared off and then into a pile for the shredder. The shredder is always working so this pile stays small. I guess we are spoiled because the largest piles are metal only, with flammable piles small and separate from each other by the piles of steel. Now that you made me think, the other scrap yards I have used are not as well organized.

The sun doesn't set like this here until well after 7. I'm not too much afraid of the loss of property, but as others have said, I am very worried about the government coming down hard on the company...especially if hazardous materials are found on the property. Even if they are unrelated to the fire, the government is going to make an example out of them.

Other examples were when the US Navy USS Port Royal ran into a coral reef near the airport, the state settled for $8.5 million in 2009. Even in an industrial park like this yard is in, I remember the owner telling me one day that even a small chemical spill is a huge fine with the state.

I admit I am too naïve. I could not imagine hazardous waste, flammables mixed with steel, or the other things that have been mentioned here. Guess it is time to grow up.

Update:
More than 24 hours later the fire is still burning. The Honolulu Fire Department has left the scene (as the fire seems to be, for the most part, under control) and the scrap yard is now responsible for putting out the rest of the fire. According to an HFD spokesman, propane tanks and other scrap started exploding as the yard started using cranes to dismantle the pile. HPD has begun contacting businesses in the area to evacuate due to the toxic smoke being spewed from the yard. The Honolulu Fire Department is also monitoring the smoke that was blown out to sea. There have been reports that a lot of it is being blown back toward land.

The owner of the yard still doesn't know what caused the fire. HFD suspects spontaneous combustion due a mixture of auto fuel fumes and propane which then lit tires and whatever else that's flammable. They estimate it could be another day or so before the fire in under control.

Update:
The fire is now taken care of and the state Department of Health will begin investigating the company for violations. According to the owner, he expects to pass all protocol. According to a new article, there was another fire at the same yard in 2004 (way before I began scrapping) involving a tire shredder. The steel inside some of the tires caused sparks which lit the tires on fire.

It appears the yard got into some trouble before with improper permitting and non-compliance with hazardous materials standards. As per the owner, when asked if they committed violations in the past; "Oh, absolutely. Anybody who runs a recycling company has had violations before." I really hope they are squeaky clean. They're great people offering a great service.

According to an HFD spokesman, propane tanks and other scrap started exploding as the yard started using cranes to dismantle the pile.

Could be why our yard requires us to cut the propane tanks in half after pulling the valves. Auto gas tanks need the pumps pulled.

Update:
Another yard here is having trouble. Hawaii's recycling program (called Hi-5) adds a 5-cent deposit to all beverages and you get it back when you drop it off to a redemption center (which are private and have contracts with the state). Well, the state owes the largest redemption center more than a million dollars and they've been forced to close all 35 locations till they get paid.

Update
Went to the "fire yard" today to deliver some empty towers and such; they've stopped purchasing steel until they can figure out what exactly caused the fire. The guy said it could be about a month before they start buying again (prices dropped to a penny per pound anyway).

Last I check cardboard was a solid penny a pound haha