St. Petersburg Fire Rescue (SPFR) is actively responding to a fire at Aceros America St. Pete, located at 2550 30th Ave N. The blaze involves a large debris pile in the scrapyard. The call for assistance was received at 1:55 PM, and fire crews have been on the scene since.
The fire broke out in a debris pile at the rear of the property. On-site personnel initially attempted to extinguish the fire using portable extinguishers. SPFR evacuated the site, and residents in the nearby Ponce De Leon neighborhood were also evacuated due to heavy smoke.
St. Petersburg Police have cordoned off the area, blocking all streets between Morris Street and 28th Street, and from 30th Avenue to 26th Avenue. The fire has impacted power lines in the vicinity, and Duke Energy has been alerted.
SPFR has pulled multiple hose lines and is aggressively working to control the fire. A second alarm was issued to bring in additional resources, including a hazmat unit for foam application.
While the cause of the fire remains under investigation, early reports suggest that the presence of hurricane debris including appliances with flammable insulation, motors, and batteries may have contributed to the ignition of the
fire.
This incident serves as a critical reminder of the importance of properly sorting debris toprevent hazardous materials from reaching recycling centers.