Fire sends black smoke billowing at Joliet, Illinois scrap yard
JOLIET, Ill. (CBS) -- A fire raged late Friday afternoon at a scrap yard in Joliet.
The Lockport Township Fire Protection District said it was called at 2:17 p.m. for a fire at the BL Duke Joliet Industrial Scrap Metal Recycling Yard, located on Genstar Lane off Broadway Street.
Lockport fire companies found an "exceptionally large" scrap pile on Fire. Firefighters from the Joliet Fire Department were already there.
Thick plumes of black smoke could be seen for miles. Piles of scrapped items were apparently burning.
The Lockport and Joliet fire crews worked for hours to bring the fire under control.
The scrap yard is used for recycling materials, which constituted most of what was on fire, the fire protection district said.
No buildings caught on fire. Workers were on the scene during the fire, but there were no injuries reported.
The fire response was upgraded to a full still alarm, which brought in additional mutual aid assistance from multiple departments. These departments assisted on scene, and also filled in for Lockport firefighters who were out at the scrap yard.
The area where the scrap yard is located a has a limited hydrant system, so neighboring fire departments brought in water tenders.
The cause of the fire remained unknown late Friday.
