Crews fight junk yard fire for seven hours at Muscatine Metals

MUSCATINE, Iowa (KWQC) - The Muscatine Fire Department responded to a junk yard fire at 11 a.m. Thursday for seven hours at Muscatine Metals.

Muscatine Fire Department saw heavy black smoke visible while enroute and upgraded the call to a structure fire, the department said in a media release. Two additional alarms were sounded as fire crews arrived.

Officials said no injuries were reported in the three-alarm fire.

The fire department said firefighters found a large pile of metal, mostly vehicles, was on fire and contained the fire that was spreading towards Musco Lighting in 30 minutes.

Fire officials declared the fire under control at 3 p.m. but units remained on the scene until 6 p.m. to watch for hot spots to reignite, the Muscatine Fire Department said.

The Muscatine Fire Department was assisted by the Fruitland Volunteer Fire Department, Wilton Volunteer Fire Department, Muscatine Police Department, Muscatine County Sheriff’s Department, and Bayer Corporation who provided foam and manpower.

Dick Drake Way was shut down from U.S. 61 to Stewart Road during the firefighting effort, the fire department said.

Fire loss is unknown since scrapped vehicles were mostly involved, Muscatine Fire Department said. The cause remains under investigation but preliminary findings point to an accidental fire.

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