HOUSTON – Firefighters responded to a scrap metal fire Tuesday morning at Ironman Metals, a recycling plant located at 1919 Goodyear Drive near Highway 225, according to the Houston Fire Department.
The fire was reported around 6:45 a.m. At its peak, 26 units and around 60 personnel were on scene — including hazmat teams and the Houston Health Department.
How the fire started
The Houston Fire Department says the fire started at the top of one of the scrap metal piles at the facility, eventually seeping further into the middle of the pile, which strengthened it. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but officials say transporting metal always carries risks, such as creating sparks.
“When they do that, there’s that risk. Supposedly there are safeguards in place to prevent accidental sparks. But in this particular case, it’s happening more and more at these recycling plants,” said Deputy Chief Isaac Garcia.
Drones, excavators played key role
Garcia adds firefighters were pushing out 6,000 gallons of water a minute to contain the blaze. Excavators were brought in to pull back scrap metal and expose the base of the fire.
Drone operators also played a critical role, using infrared technology to locate hotspots and track which direction the fire was moving.
“The fire department has access to drone footage that we have and deploy. We are able to get a good size up, be able to see where this fire was going, where it stays, and where that particular hot spot is at,” Garcia said. “With infrared information, that information tells us where to target — a surgical application of our resources.”
Air quality concerns
Because scrap metal can be covered in oil or chemical residue, the Houston Health Department was on scene monitoring air quality. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality also assisted.
“And then an outside agency, the TCEQ, is helping the Health Department monitor the area — to ensure soil quality and air quality. So at this time, there are no concerns,” said Chief Thomas Muñoz.
With 6,000 gallons of water per minute being used, crews dug into nearby brush to create a runoff site for the water — a step that required authorization from the Health Department because of environmental concerns.
Air Alliance Houston, a nonprofit focused on the impacts of air pollution, issued a statement saying, “Fires such as this release air pollutants such as PM 2.5, which worsen air quality and pose significant risks to sensitive groups, including children, seniors and those with chronic respiratory or cardiovascular conditions.”
Scene clears, no injuries reported
Because of the heat, first responders rotated constantly, with a staging area providing water, food and even a metro bus for cooling down. Fire cadets were also on scene, tasked with wrapping up the 3,500 feet of hose used during the response.
First responders have since left the scene. Several inches of water remained covering the roadway, and the smell of burning metal lingered after the fire was extinguished. No injuries were reported.