MONROE, MI — On Wednesday morning, July 9, emergency crews responded to a reported fire at Gerdau Steel, where a pile of scrap metal had ignited. The Monroe Public Safety Department was dispatched to the scene at 6:56 a.m., with Monroe fire units arriving shortly after.
The fire was contained to the pile of scrap metal and no injuries were reported. The Monroe Township Fire Department also responded to the scene.
“Industrial fires such as this can pose serious hazards,” said the Monroe Public Safety Department in a release. “Fires involving scrap metal are particularly dangerous due to the intense heat, potential presence of unknown reactive metals, and the risk of toxic fumes.”
The cause of the fire is unknown. According to the public safety department, scrap metal fires can result from a variety of causes including chemical reactions or the presence of residual flammable materials.
“It’s not uncommon at a steel mill because of the certain processes things go through,” said Commander John Wall with the Monroe Public Safety Department.
— Contact reporter Connor Veenstra at CVeenstra@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Rescue crews extinguish scrap fire at Gerdau Steel in Monroe
Reporting by Connor Veenstra, The Monroe News / The Monroe News
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