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Fire hits recycling center’s pile of scrap materials
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Posted on Oct 24 2008
A fire hit a pile of scrap materials inside the compound of a recycling center in Puerto Rico, Saipan yesterday morning.
No one was reported hurt, but motorists and residents in the area noticed a strong, foul odor coming from the burned scrap materials at the Huang Zheng Corp. Recycling Center.
Department of Public Safety spokesperson Lei Ogumoro told Saipan Tribune that the fire was reported to DPS at 10:35am.
Ogumoro said preliminary report showed that Huang Zheng Corp. employees were cutting down metal sheets when the plastic materials caught fire.
DPS Fire Division dispatched a fire tanker and a fire engine to the scene.
“The fire was located underneath the pile of scrap materials, therefore the junk had to be lifted up and removed in order for the firefighters to flush out the fire with water,” Ogumoro said.
The fire was placed under control at noon, she added.
Ogumoro said Division of Environmental Quality personnel also responded to investigate as the fire involved scrap materials.
Ogumoro said she has no information whether a citation was issued against the recycling center for any violations.
When Saipan Tribune arrived at the scene at 10:57am, firefighters were still battling the blaze on the pile of scrap materials.
Thick smoke slowed down traffic in the vicinity of Middle Road corner of Puerto Rico Drive near Ambyth Shipping.
Motorists could smell the strong, foul odor coming from the burned scrap materials.
When Saipan Tribune went back to the scene past 1pm, there was no smoke anymore at the recycling center. The fire did not spread to the office’s area. No one was inside as the recycling center was padlocked from the outside.
