North Carolina Scrap Metal Yard Fire Leads to Neighbor Evacuations, Power Outages

A fire caused heavy damage at a North Carolina scrap metal yard, forced evacuations from a nearby neighborhood and cut electricity to around 1,400 customers.

Officials in Salisbury said in a statement the fire erupted Wednesday at Holmes Iron and Metal in nearby East Spencer and involved several vehicles. The city said a firefighter was slightly injured retrieving a hose from a tanker truck.

The Salisbury Post reported small explosions could be heard as batteries and other materials in piles of wrecked cars exploded.

A shelter-in-place advisory was issued for residents in the area of the fire because of smoke, and people were encouraged to close windows and doors.

The Rowan-Salisbury hazmat and Charlotte Regional Team confirmed no airborne hazardous material in the vicinity of the scrap yard.