Apopka scrap-metal fire sends plumes of smoke visible for miles
The thick, black billows of smoke that could be seen from several miles were caused by a scrap metal fire in an industrial recycling yard in Apopka, according to Orange County Fire Rescue.
The initial 911 call came in at about 4:45 p.m. Monday by someone who reported seeing 30-foot flames coming from Landers Recycling, spokeswoman Carrie Proudfit said.
Firefighters were able to contain the fire to a large pile of scrap metal with the help of heavy machinery manned by Landers employees. A crew was still monitoring the smoldering pile by the evening.
No injuries were reported, and chemicals released by the fire that left a strong odor in the area haven’t presented air quality issues, Proudfit said.
The cause of the fire has not been determined as officials begin to investigate, but Proudfit initially discarded the possibility of it being caused by lightning strikes, which sparked a brush fire elsewhere in the county.
“No employees reported hearing a lightning strike before the fire,” Proudfit said.
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