Carmel, ME - On May 21st at 11:30 A.M., firefighters were dispatched to the Ideal Recycling yard in Carmel for reports of a fire. The initial information given was that a pile of “sheet metal" was on fire.

First arriving units found a large pile of junked vehicles, tires and other scrap metal materials on fire, including numerous propane and pressurized gas containers. The containers were indicated to have been made safe, however, not all were which resulted in several minor explosions of unknown origin during the course of the incident.

Units from throughout Penobscot County responded to both assist in fighting the fire, as well as providing a tanker shuttle for water supply.

Special units that responded included the Maine Forest Service, which provided air support and water drops to keep the fire from spreading into the surrounding woods, as well as the Maine Air National Guard Fire Department from the Bangor International Airport, which provided a foam trailer. Maine DEP also responded, along with the Bangor based Salvation Army field support canteen.

There were no injuries and the cause of the fire was ruled accidental. Units remained on location monitoring for flare ups and hot spots throughout the day and into mid-morning on May 22nd.