A pile of auto fluff caught fire at the Metals Recycling LLC facility in Johnston, RI.
The fire "wasn't too big," Johnston Fire Battalion Chief Vincent Crosby said yesterday. "It was contained very fast. Just the usual fluff fire."
Crosby said it took firefighters about 10 minutes to extinguish the fire, which was reported just after 9 p.m. Afterward, fire crews stayed at the scene for about four hours, wetting down the fluff pile to cool it.
Auto fluff consists of seat upholstery and other non-metal materials from recycled cars.
Friday's fire did not spread beyond the fluff. But in July 2002, a fire at Metals Recycling's 18-acre Celia Street site grew, igniting about 30 cars and three piles of fluff, and burning actively for five hours.
Crosby said Friday's fire probably began when heat built up in the pile of fluff. The state fire marshal's office is investigating.
Crosby said four engines, a ladder truck and two rescue trucks responded.
No one was injured. Providence (Rhode Island) Journal
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