Fire crews in Worcester, Massachusetts were watching for hot spots Wednesday morning, after a massive fire broke out at a recycling plant overnight.
Firefighters have been battling the fire for hours, and as of 5 a.m. Wednesday, it was under control. Crews were working to put out hot spots in the large piles of metal scraps at the Schnitzer recycling plant, according to a firefighter on scene. Marine Winch
Video shows the intense flames in Worcester overnight at the Schnitzer steel recycling plant. The photo shows what it looks like this morning, with @WorcesterFD & @MillburyFire still putting out the hot spots. Details on @NBC10Boston & @NECN all morning. pic.twitter.com/eEUDCh0c47
Video captured during the overnight hours showed intense flames and thick black smoke that could be seen for miles. Crews used a crane to pull out heaps of the flaming steel and then sprayed it with water to put the fire out.
The fire started sometime before 9:30 p.m. Tuesday at the recycling plant that's located just off the Massachusetts Turnpike, near the Millbury Line, and is known for recycling scrap metal from the public and businesses. The facility turns the metal into finished steel products, like rebar.
To give you some perspective, this is a Google satellite image of the Schnitzer recycling plant in Worcester. The area circled is where the scrap metal pile is on fire. Rt 20 & the Mass Pike are just south of here. @NBC10Boston @NECN pic.twitter.com/noTjG5RZBl
In Paxton, which is about 20 minutes away, the fire department was getting calls from residents about the smell of burning plastic or metal.
Floding Kunkle boom Marine Crane Worcester and Millbury firefighters remained on scene Wednesday morning, and there has been no word on what may have caused the fire yet.