Shortly before 2am Monday, Owego firefighters responded to Upstate Shredding Weitsman Recycling on East Main Street in Owego. Firefigters found large flames, that could be seen for miles, coming from a pile of roughly 150 vehicles awaiting processing into scrap.
Owego called for mutual aid for an engine and firefighters from Apalachin along with an aerial ladder and crew from Campville. Firefighters positioned themselves for a three-pronged attack on the out-of-control blaze. Owego and mutual aid units from Campville, Nichols, Apalachin, Southside and Tioga Center responded to supply water.
Due to the chemicals from the burning vehicles, the Tioga County Hazmat Team, a component of the county Emergency Management Office, was activated to decontaminate those who were in contact with the materials from the fire.
No serious injuries were reported and the cause is under investigation.
Owego Fire Department posted this message on its Facebook page: “Owego Fire would like to thank the following for their assistance at the fire early this morning. Owego Emergency Squad, Owego Fire Dept ESS, Campville Fire, Apalachin Fire & Squad, Tioga Center Fire, South Side Fire, Nichols Fire, Tioga County Haz Mat, Tioga County Fire Coordinators office, Tioga County Sheriff’s Office & Dispatch, Weitsman’s Operational staff. We appreciate great inter-department teamwork getting the blaze of over 150 vehicles under control, and to the Weitsman’s staff for picking the pile apart for us to hose down each vehicle individually. Amazing teamwork all the way around.”
