By KEILE CAMPBELL

kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

A FIRE that erupted on a scrap metal yard on Joe Farrington Road yesterday morning set derelict vehicles ablaze and sent smoke billowing into the air for much of the day.

The fire prompted the Ministry of Education to end school for the day at Cleveland Eneas Primary and Sadie Curtis Primary.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Damian Robinson said police were alerted to the fire around 10.17am and sent firefighter units to the scrap metal yard, CRT Enterprises Limited, where they found the compound “fully ablaze” before containing “a majority of it”.

He said there were no reports of injuries nor threats to residents, though authorities were concerned about a Rubis gas station “just to the east” of the compound.

The Tribune understands a crane rental company next to the scrap metal yard caught fire and was damaged, but that fire was quelled and controlled.

Everette Rolle, proprietor of CRT Enterprises Limited, said his company received a derelict vehicle with a gas tank, which goes against their policy of having the tanks removed before receiving vehicles.

“When our escalator went to lift it, the gas tank got punctured, and it exploded, and the fire sorta spread very quickly,” Mr Rolle said.

“We responded with our fire extinguishers, but it wasn’t sufficient to contain the fire and because of the swirling winds, it spun out of control.”

Mr Rolle said firefighters responded within 10 to 15 minutes.

He said the damage must be assessed, but the business must “bounce back as quickly as” possible. 

He said his business had experienced a fire only once: 22 years ago.

“That one was larger,” he said, adding that water from a canal was used then  because equipment was less available.

Gunshot-like sounds from the fire were “old tyres, old fuel tanks,” ACP Robinson said. 

“That’s why we try to keep everyone at least 200 to 300 feet at bay, but it’s safety first. Our main and chief function is protection of life and property first, so that was the only concern trying to get the crowd away at a safe distance.” 

The Tribune received reports at press time that the blaze had picked back up.