Rubber, Oil, Fuel Burned At USA Metal
Fire Latest Episode At Plant In Lowell
Smoke rises up from a fire at USA Metal on 721 S Lincoln St in Lowell Thursday afternoon. Firefighters from Lowell, Behtel Heights, and Springdale were called to the scene late Thursday afternoon to fight the blaze.
Saturday, December 28, 2013
LOWELL — Metal, rubber, oil and antifreeze burned in Thursday’s fire at USA Metal Recycling.
Employees were draining fuel and oil from a vehicle when the fire started, Fire Chief Mike Morris said.
“Something they did in the process ignited the fuels,” Morris said.
The cause was under investigation Friday.
A message left for Tom Smith, chief operation officer of the company, with a person answering the company phone Friday morning wasn't returned by Friday evening.
The 911 call came in at 3:45 p.m., and the flames were under control at 4:34 p.m., Morris said. The fire was mostly out at 5:56 p.m.
At A Glance
Complaints, Inspections
Complaints against USA Metal Recycling and inspections of the Lowell plant filed with the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality:
• March 13: Complaint of health concerns regarding odors
• Oct. 15, 2012: Complaint of explosions, odor
• May 22, 2012: Fire complaint
• March 22, 2012: Inspection following a report of a hydrocarbon sheen in concrete drainage
• March 15, 2012: Complaint of odors, health issues
• March 2, 2012: Complaint of dust, odors, health concerns
• Feb. 22, 2012: Complaint of black smoke, odor
• Feb. 13, 2012: Complaint of air quality
• Feb. 9, 2012: Complaint of explosion
• Jan. 24, 2012: Complaint of smoke, odor
• Jan. 17, 2012: Complaint of explosions, smoke, odor.
• Jan. 13, 2012: Complaint of six explosions since Dec. 21, 2011
• Jan. 4, 2012: Complaint of explosions, odor
• Nov. 28, 2011: Inspection finding waste was placed in a way that has potential to cause water pollution. Spill prevention and response procedures can be improved. Preventative maintenance program needs improvement.
• Nov. 14, 2011: Inspection
• Nov. 2, 2011: Complaint of smells, noise, explosions, smoke, chemicals leaking into the ground water
• Oct. 19, 2011: Complaint of odor, dust, black smoke
• July 11, 2011: Smoke and odor
Source: www.adeq.state.ar.us
No one was injured, and the fire was contained within a metal building, Morris said. The building contained two vehicles, one forklift, 20 to 30 tires and four to six drums partially filled with motor oil and antifreeze. The siding on the outside of the building was burned and melted in places.
“Everything inside was obviously a total loss,” Morris said.
The building is on the northeast part of the plant’s property and next to Darragh, a construction material distributor. Stephen Tolbert, manager at Darragh, said Thursday this was the second time the building caught fire.
“It’s never a dull moment with these guys behind us,” Tolbert said.
Tolbert said he heard a few small explosions and then black smoke drifted over his business. He said it smelled like burned rubber.
Robyn Edwards, office manager at Culligan, said Thursday she heard an explosion from the plant a few months ago that shook the building. Culligan is an international water treatment products company next to USA Metal.
Morris said the Lowell Fire Department has responded to two fires at the plant in the past couple years. He didn’t know how many explosions have occurred at the plant.
Eric Schein, Lowell City Council alderman and resident of the Southfork subdivision east of the plant, said he and his neighbors have witnessed fires, explosions, loud noises and pollution in water runoff.
Schein said he wasn’t home Thursday during the fire. He was home Jan. 4, 2012, when a propane bottle caused an explosion.
“It was enough that I took cover,” Schein said.
Neighbors complained in 2012 about noise from USA Metal as well as occasional fires and loading railroad cars at night. The company built berms, sound deadening walls, planted trees and moved equipment to reduce the noise. The number of complaints dropped.
Eighteen complaints and inspections were filed with the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality against the company since it opened in 2011 at 721 S. Lincoln St. Complaints include concerns about fire, explosions, odor, dust, black smoke, chemicals leaking into ground water and air quality.