A burning heap of scrap metal at an Oakland recycling plant sent smoke billowing into the air Wednesday evening as fireboats drew water from the San Francisco Bay to douse the blaze.
The fire reported just after 5:30 p.m. at Schnitzer Steel was quickly contained to a 50-foot-tall pile of "steel and other recyclables," according to Oakland Fire Department spokesperson Michael Hunt.
Update #1: Fire is contained to a single pile. Engine 2 continues to put water on the fire. The Incident Commander requested the City of Alameda’s fire boat to support from the estuary. Incident is contained but not yet under control. #OFD will likely be on scene for a few hours. https://t.co/MJtpzTvqvE
— Oakland Fire Department (CA) (@OaklandFireCA) August 10, 2023
Two fireboats—one from San Francisco and another from Alameda—were helping Oakland crews extinguish the burning mound of mangled metal with water from the bay, Hunt said.
Large fire at Schnitzer Steel near Port of Oakland producing large column of smoke. AD inspectors are investigating. Plume is expected to travel south this evening and impact AQ in the immediate vicinity and areas downwind. Follow instructions from local health officials.
— Bay Area Air Quality (@AirDistrict) August 10, 2023
Firefighters expect to remain on the scene until at least 9 p.m. to break down the pile and extinguish it piece by piece.
The fire department asks Oakland residents to avoid the area near Jack London Square, close their windows and remain indoors if they smell smoke.
No information about the cause or how wide an area has been impacted by smoke or the blaze was immediately available.