ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – A massive fire erupted at Aceros America St. Pete, a scrap metal recycling facility located at 2550 30th Avenue North in St. Petersburg, this afternoon. St. Petersburg Fire Rescue (SPFR) crews are battling the blaze, which broke out around 1:55 PM and involves a large pile of debris.
The fire prompted evacuations of nearby residents in the Ponce De Leon neighborhood due to heavy smoke. St. Petersburg Police have closed several streets surrounding the scrapyard, from Morris Street to 28th Street and from 30th Avenue to 26th Avenue, to facilitate firefighting operations.
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SPFR crews are aggressively fighting the fire, which has been contained to the debris pile. However, the scale of the incident led to a second alarm, bringing in additional resources, including a hazmat unit to assist with foam application. The fire has also affected power lines, and Duke Energy is aware of the situation.
SPFR is taking this opportunity to remind the community to carefully sort debris before taking it to recycling facilities. This can help prevent fires and ensure the safety of workers and residents.
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