Operations & Training

RI Crews Put Out Blaze after 20 Cars Catch Fire

April 2, 2019

Around 70 firefighters battled the fire, which broke out Monday as the vehicles were being crushed at a recycling facility in Providence.

By Madeleine List

Source The Providence Journal, R.I.

About 70 firefighters responded to a blaze Monday at a Providence, RI, recycling facility after 20 cars caught fire while being crushed.

Dozens of Providence, RI, Firefighters Needed when 20 Cars Catch FirePROVIDENCE — About 70 firefighters extinguished a blaze at Sims Metal Management on Monday after about 20 cars caught fire while being crushed.

Firefighters from Providence as well as a foam task force from East Providence, Johnston and Woonsocket responded shortly before 2 p.m. to the metals-recycling company on Fields Point Drive, said Paul Picozzi, acting assistant deputy chief for the Fire Department.

Picozzi said the cause of the fire is under investigation. No one was injured, he said.

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management was also on scene, but Picozzi said he didn't expect the environmental impact to be significant because most of the gasoline inside the cars burned.

Some equipment and a building were damaged in the fire, Picozzi said.

Firefighters extinguished the fire in about an hour.

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