Officials said they would bring in bulldozers sometime on Tuesday to begin removing debris and ensure that all fire remnants had been extinguished. Until then, fire crews were to continue monitoring the scene in case of flare-ups.
Flames had shot out through the roof of the Thermo Fluids facility, located at 6400 SE 101st Ave, when fire crews first arrived just after 8 a.m. Monday. Thick, black smoke could be seen for miles, billowing high into the sky. Ashes fell to the ground like scattered rain around the industrial complex and neighborhoods surrounding the blaze.
No one was injured, but the blaze is estimated to have caused about $3.5 million in damage. Thermo Fluids disposes of and recycles chemicals including oil, industrial cleaning fluids and antifreeze. Investigators on the scene said sparks from a welder fell into an oil pit, igniting the blaze.
