Saturday, Jul. 04, 2009

Fire destroys recycling facility outside Edwardsville

EDWARDSVILLE -- Fire destroyed a recycling facility outside Edwardsville on Friday afternoon.

Workers at CKS Metal Corp. in the 5500 block of Old Alton Road were cutting metal with an acetylene torch when the heat set fire to other materials about 1:30 p.m., said Edwardsville Fire Department Capt. Bob Morgan.

"By the time we got there, it had taken hold of the building," Morgan said.

The building, which Morgan described as a pole barn, was used primarily for storing metal recyclables. Workers hauled out whatever they could and moved compressed gas cylinders away from the building.

Just in case, Morgan said, they called the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to monitor for any possible hazardous materials. But there was no oil or flammable liquid found, he said.

Edwardsville firefighters were assisted by fire departments from Glen Carbon, Holiday Shores, Wood River, Roxana, South Roxana and Mitchell. Highland and Collinsville firefighters covered the Edwardsville station during the 2 1/2 hours firefighters were at CKS.

Six water haulers and a portable tank were used to keep enough water at the site. Toward the end, firefighters tore down the building with a backhoe to get at the hot spots, Morgan said.

No CKS workers were injured in the fire, though one firefighter did injure a knee. There is at least one house nearby, but it was not in danger, Morgan said.