Huge fire destroys Iowa scrap metal recycling plant

WASHINGTON (Scrap Monster): A huge fire broke out at Rich Metals on the 300 block of West Mayne Street, Blue Grass, Eastern Iowa, just west of Davenport. The fire started around 9.00 Tuesday morning.

Thick fumes of smoke were visible from three miles away. The fire led to explosion of tires and tanks. The burning of tire inside the building generated piles of black smoke.

It took several hours for the fire fighters from Blue Grass Fire Department to bring the fire under control. Bad weather disrupted the operation several times.

Fire officials had to evacuate students from a nearby elementary school.

According to company officials, no employee was in the building at the time of the fire. No one was injured.

The cause of the fire is still unknown. Investigation by fire fighters is still on.

The fire damaged the building completely. Rich Metals responded that the fire has caused huge loss, but the building will be rebuilt and operations will return to normal at the earliest.

Located in Davenport, Rich Metals Co. is a leading buyer, processor and recycler of ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metal.