The sky turned dark over Guelph Street
Fire at Kitchener auto yard sparks plumes of smoke
KITCHENER — Plumes of dark smoke filled the sky above Earl’s Auto Parts after a fire in the yard destroyed two cars and part of a storage shed late Thursday morning.
The smoke could be seen blocks away from the site, in the industrial area on Guelph Street near Spring Valley Road.
At least five pumper trucks and about 20 firefighters were on scene fighting the fire, which started at about 11:20 a.m.
Guelph Street was closed from Maple Avenue to Sereda Road, near the Conestoga Parkway while the crews battled the blaze.
Platoon chief Terry Gitzel said workers at the auto wreckers business had a car on a hoist and were attempting to drain oil using a drill. The drilling caused a spark, which started a fire that then spread to a second car.
Workers attempted to use fire extinguishers to put out the fire but it spread to a nearby storage shed and firefighters were called.
Piris Mohammad was working on the car, draining the oil pan.
“I was drilling and I looked down and saw the fire. I ran to the shed but by the time I got back it was going. There was no way I was going to put it out,” he said.
Minutes after fire crews arrived to battle the fire, Mohammad was in the office.
“I’m OK really,” he said after being asked repeatedly how he was doing.
The auto parts recycling operation is owned by Turhan Aygor, who purchased the yard 13 months ago. His son, Berk, said draining fluid from the car is a common practice.
“When the fire started, he got scared and went to the shed to get
the fire extinguisher but with the wind the fire kept going,” Berk Aygor said.
The Aygors and other workers waited in the garage as firefighters went to work amid the smoke.
“It’s important to us that nobody was hurt,” said Turhan Aygor’s wife, Bahar Aygor.
Gitzel said the black smoke was caused by the burning of synthetics as well as chairs, seats and tires.
“It’s a rich hydro carbon smoke that creates radiant heat. Radiant heat travels until it ignites,” he said.
Gitzel said area storm drains were plugged so residue didn’t get into the water system. Representatives from the Ministry of the Environment were on site and were satisfied there were no environmental concerns.
The fire is ruled as accidental and not considered suspicious, Gitzel said. No one was hurt.
By early afternoon, firefighters were packing up their hoses and leaving the area. Gitzel said the cleanup is the responsibility of the owner.
“If there were fire-related or safety concerns, we would be back,” he said.
Konrad Spilles, owner of Able Towing and Recovery, was at his shop when he saw the smoke from his window. Like many working in the area, he came outside and stood in a parking lot as the sky turned black and the smell of smoke filled the air.
Carlos Sousa owns Motoring Trendds of Canada in a nearby unit. He was worried the fire could spread to his neighbouring yard.
“Good thing it didn’t spread. It could have been more dangerous,” said Sousa.