Firefighters battle stubborn scrapyard blaze
DEEP called in to contain petroleum in Naugatuck River
Waterbury firefighters spent hours Thursday battling a stubborn blaze at an industrial and retail scrap metal recycling business, with plumes of smoke from the fire visible from miles away.
Firefighters were called to Albert Brothers on East Aurora Street a little after 9 a.m. and remained on the scene at midafternoon.
Three fire engines, a ladder truck and machinery owned by the business were used to dismantle a 200-square-foot pile of flaming scrap metal which towered about 50 feet and contain the blaze.
The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection responded to the scene to contain and address run-off containing petroleum that had reached the nearby Naugatuck River.
“We are directing the property owner to hire a contractor to run samples of the impacted water for volatile organic compounds, semi volatile organic compounds, and metals,” the agency said in a written statement.
Officials with DEEP said the petroleum was likely the result of the breakdown of plastic materials contained within the metal products at the facility.
DEEP also deployed a drone to offer aerial visibility and enlisted the assistance of the Connecticut National Guard’s mobile lab for onsite air monitoring assistance and lab analysis. Wireless monitoring is being performed to check for toxic compounds.
Fire officials said the cause of the fire was unclear but the fire marshal was on the scene investigating. The blaze included items like refrigerators, desks “anything that’s metal, and it has flammables with it,” a fire official said. No injuries were reported. Firefighters remained on scene for several more hours to eliminate any remaining hot spots.