Scrapyard fire closes Clay Street

Jasper — Thursday morning, a trailer with scrap metal and aftermarket truck accessories caught fire at Jasper Salvage.

According to Jasper Fire Chief Kenny Hochgesang, they were called to the fire at 610 South Clay Street at about 11:30 a.m. Arriving firefighters found employees pulling a trailer engulfed in flames away from buildings and equipment in the salvage yard.

The open trailer had flames shooting into the air above it, said Hochgesang, but the source of the fire was near the bottom of the scrap pile. Firefighters had to suppress the flames to allow a grappler to pull scrap from the top of the pile. Afterward, firefighters were able to extinguish the fire at its source.

Clay Street was closed the entire time firefighters were there since crews had to run hoses across the roadway to the nearest fire hydrant. The Jasper Police Department responded to assist with the street closure, and the Street Department arrived with barriers a short time later. The road reopened at about 1:34 p.m.

There were four fire engines on the scene with about 25 firefighters.

No injuries were reported, and damages were limited to the trailer.

Hochgesang said they have yet to determine how the fire started.