The Pensacola Fire Department says an overnight fire at EMR Southern Recycling on Bayou Chico that burned about an acre of material did not cause significant water or air pollution, but fires at the facility are a recurring problem.
The fire was reported shortly before 2 a.m. May 26 at 1000 S. Myrick St. Pensacola Fire Chief Ginny Cranor provided an update on efforts to contain it later that morning.
The fire chief says the fire was 50-percent contained by around 4 a.m. and fully under control by 8 a.m.
She said crews arrived on scene in less than 10 minutes and attacked the blaze “aggressively” to prevent it from spreading to a nearby business.
Cranor said the fire was reported by a security guard at EMR Southern Recycling who was alerted to a “heat anomaly” detected by a thermal imaging system on site that looks for temperature variations in their pile.
EMR Southern Recycling primarily has crushed cars on site.
Firefighters say what makes tackling blazes at the recycling facility particularly difficult is they often smolder down deep in the material.
EMR declined to comment on the fire, but Cranor said the company helped fight it.
“It’s a very deep-seated fire,” Cranor said. “We’ve been working with the facility and their crane operators to move the burning debris over so we could continue to get to the fire. We’ve essentially moved the fire spot to a few different smaller locations where we can extinguish it. We also are using thermal imaging equipment on site.”
Cranor said EMR Southern Recycling uses thermal imaging equipment to help with early fire detection because city fire crews have responded to four fires there in the last two years alone.
“I believe we were contacted so quickly for this fire as a direct result of our fire marshal’s office being out there working with the facility on the size of the piles that they have and breaks between those piles, and then mainly that notification system, those thermal imaging cameras and a quick notification to us,” the fire chief said. “I do believe we were notified much sooner because of the work of our fire marshal’s office.”
Cranor said they’re going to be working with the facility on more effective fire prevention because they want to prevent them from happening at all.
Part of the problem is determining the cause of the fires. She said it’s often difficult to determine due to the extent of the fire and the nature of the debris.
Speculation includes lithium-ion batteries or lightning strikes that smolder. The crushed cars and various scrap metals at the facility make the fires intense and difficult to put out once they start.
Neighbors with the Bayou Chico Association say their mission is dedicated to the restoration, preservation and improved water quality of the bayou, and they’re concerned about the facility.
“We are firm supporters of business and industry on the bayou but are deeply concerned and disappointed by the recurring incidents, such as fires at the Southern Recycling facility,” said Bayou Chico Association President Barry Johnson. “Things like this can have a negative impact on the bayou, the residents and the businesses along this waterway. We remain committed to ensuring that Bayou Chico remains a healthy, safe and viable asset for all residents.”
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection was on scene to monitor the air quality and surface water impact.
The facility deployed 100 feet of boom to contain the water runoff within a retaining wall on site.
Authorities say the wind was favorable, which helped mitigate the impact of smoke plumes.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Fourth fire in two years raises concerns at EMR Southern Recycling
Reporting by Mollye Barrows, Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal
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