COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – The Columbus Division of Fire continues to fight a massive blaze that broke out early Friday morning on the southeast side of the city.
According to Fire Chief Jeffrey Geitter, crews were called shortly after midnight to a scrapyard in the 2100 block of Alum Creek Drive, where Columbus Auto Shredding is located, where a large outdoor pile of metal was up in flames.
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Columbus Division of Fire battles a blaze at the Columbus Auto Shredding compound, Sept. 20, 2024. (Courtesy/Ohio Department of Transportation) -
Columbus Division of Fire battles a blaze at the Columbus Auto Shredding compound, Sept. 20, 2024. (Courtesy/Ohio Department of Transportation) -
Columbus Division of Fire battles a blaze at the Columbus Auto Shredding compound, Sept. 20, 2024. (NBC4/Jackie Gillis) -
Columbus Division of Fire battles a blaze at the Columbus Auto Shredding compound, Sept. 20, 2024. (NBC4/Ronald Clark) -
Columbus Division of Fire battles a blaze at the Columbus Auto Shredding compound, Sept. 20, 2024. (Courtesy/Columbus Division of Fire) -
Columbus Division of Fire battles a blaze at the Columbus Auto Shredding compound, Sept. 20, 2024. (Courtesy/Columbus Division of Fire) -
Columbus Division of Fire battles a blaze at the Columbus Auto Shredding compound, Sept. 20, 2024. (Courtesy/Columbus Division of Fire)
The facility is home to recycled metals and where old cars get shredded. The fire is located outside of the property where hundreds of cars are stored, and the fire itself appears to be concentrated from those cars and related debris.
Columbus Fire and Madison Township Fire Department were at the scene fighting the second-alarm blaze, which could be seen, and smelled, from miles away.
Chief Geitter said no injuries have been reported, but it remains unknown what caused the fire. Hazmat crews have been deployed as well to monitor for toxic chemicals released from the fire, which Geitter said is difficult to extinguish.
“These are challenging. It requires a lot of water,” he said. “So having to bring in that water from long stretches from hydrants and then access the problems, you know, it’s a junk yard so it’s hard to drive around it and really get to the seed of where this fire is.”
Geitter said the City of Columbus water department was able to increase water pressure to the specific area in an effort assist firefighters, while the Ohio Department of Transportation said that Alum Creek Drive is closed between Refugee Road and Winslow Drive.
The fire has been raging for approximately nine hours as of 9:10 a.m.
Franklin County and many surrounding counties throughout central Ohio is on a burn ban while most of the state continues to be under severe drought warnings.
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