Fire in DeWitt, NY, Scrap Yard Difficult to Extinguish

The pile that included old appliances, bicycles, industrial and household items was about 40 feet high, DeWitt Fire District Chief Jason Green said.

Oct. 1, 2025

2 min read

Darian Stevenson

syracuse.com

(TNS)

DeWitt, N.Y. — The exact cause of a fire that broke out in a DeWitt scrap yard this weekend sending smoke seen for miles cannot be determined, according to the DeWitt fire chief.

The blaze at the Metalico facility at 6225 Thompson Road originated in a massive pile of unsorted waste, including old appliances, bicycles, and other household and industrial items, said DeWitt Fire District Chief Jason Green.

The pile, estimated at 60 to 70 feet in diameter and 30 to 40 feet high, was incinerated to the point that investigators could not identify a specific point of origin for the fire.

Because of the depth and intensity of the fire, much of the material was destroyed, eliminating potential clues, Green said.

Investigators noted that while lithium-ion batteries — such as those found in scooters or hoverboards — are often a concern in similar incidents, there is no direct evidence linking one to this fire, Green said.

Due to the fire’s location in a large pile of waste rather than a structure—and with no injuries or significant property damage—Green said the incident is not being actively investigated. The cause of the fire has been ruled undetermined, he said.

The fire began around 6:39 a.m. Sunday. Firefighters battled the blaze for more than 11 hours, finally extinguishing the last of the flames early Sunday evening. Crews officially cleared the scene at about 5:40 p.m., Green said.

Green said the fire took so long to contain because of the volume and density of the debris.

Thick smoke from the fire was visible from miles away, but Green said there were no immediate health or safety concerns for nearby neighborhoods. No injuries were reported.