LAKELAND, Fla. – Polk County firefighters spent last evening tackling a fast-moving scrapyard fire that sent thick, black smoke billowing over Lakeland. The situation unfolded just after 6 p.m. on Saturday when a battalion chief, busy with a separate medical call, spotted the dark plume rising near Main Street.
After alerting dispatch, the Polk Fire Rescue battalion chief reached the scene within minutes and quickly realized the scale of the fire, calling for backup immediately.
The response grew urgent as crews identified several materials among the scrap that could release toxic fumes if left to burn. Firefighters worked rapidly to establish a perimeter and suppress the flames before the chemicals could create a larger environmental hazard.
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The team managed to get the situation under control by 6:51 p.m., less than an hour after the initial discovery. Despite the potential for a hazardous materials crisis, officials confirmed that no injuries were reported among the crews or any bystanders.
While the fire is out, the work isn’t finished. The State Fire Marshal’s Office took over the scene last night to begin a formal investigation into what triggered the blaze.
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