Fire at metal recycling yard causes road closure

Aseries of small explosions and a fire at the AIM recycling yard on Queen Victoria Boulevard in Sherbrooke resulted in the closure of that street for part of the afternoon on Monday.

According to a representative of the city, the fire never grew beyond a single alarm, but a wide perimeter was set up around the site in light of the fact that there were potentially hazardous materials near the blaze.

A total of 15 firefighters responded to the fire, which was brought under control within about an hour and a half of initially arriving on the scene.

Although the exact cause of the fire is not known, it was thought to be related to the movine of machinery at the yard, and aggravated by the explosion of a small propane tank. Despite the explosions, damage was estimated as minimal because the fire was mostly outside of the structures on the site, and no one was harmed.

An environmental evaluation was underway on Monday afternoon to check on the possible impacts of the fire.