Chattanooga scrapyard fire

Chattanooga, TN (WDEF) – A thick, black plume of smoke could be seen for miles around Chattanooga Thursday from a scrapyard fire.

It happened at Mill Direct International on Rossville Avenue just before 2 p.m.

Chattanooga Firefighters set up aerials to pour hundreds of gallons of water per minute on the blaze.

Officials say the fire was intense, and that most of the products burning were petroleum-based like rubber, foam, and plastics.

Captain David Thompson Jr. said they’d suppress the fire first with water, and then use heavy machinery from the scrapyard to remove layers of scrap.

They’d continue that way until the fire is completely out.

There were no injuries reported in connection with the fire, but one firefighter did go to the hospital for heat exhaustion.

The cause of the blaze is under investigation.