Fire at Recycling Plant Forces Evacuations in Saint John

Firefighters battle a blaze at a metal recycling yard along the harbour at Saint John, New Brunswick, that has led to the closure of three schools in the area, Sept. 14, 2023. The Canadian Press/Michael Hawkins

Three schools have been evacuated and thousands of residents have been told to take shelter as firefighters tackle a massive fire in a recycling plant on the harbour in Saint John, New Brunswick.

A dense layer of smoke enveloped the area surrounding the fire that broke out at the American Iron and Metal (AIM) scrapyard on Gateway Street, on the west side of the city.

Port Saint John received news of the blaze shortly before 2 a.m. Small explosions could be heard in the vicinity of the burning debris as the fire raged.

Saint John’s Emergency Management Office issued a voluntary shelter-in-place advisory for residents in the city’s southern area just before 11 a.m., on Sept.14.

“Residents are asked to remain in their homes, if possible, due to air quality concerns,” a spokesperson for the city said in a news release.

Residents were also advised to close doors and windows and turn off HVAC systems to mitigate smoke effects.

By 2 p.m. local time, Saint John Fire Chief Kevin Clifford reported that half the fire had been extinguished but said much work remained to be done to get the rest of it under control.

“We still have a lot of fire on the ... water side,” he told CBC News. “I do hope by tomorrow morning we’re in a situation of total control.”

Environment Canada issued an air quality statement for downtown Saint John recommending residents reschedule strenuous outdoor activity until the special air quality statement is lifted.

AIM reported that a mechanic on the night shift first spotted the fire. Security cameras at the recycling facility have been out of commission since the spring, following a hacking incident, AIM CEO Herb Black told the CBC.

“I’m instituting plans that it can never happen again,” Mr. Black said.

It is not the first time the AIM facility has dealt with a fire outbreak. In 2020, another fire broke out on site where vehicles had their interiors removed prior to the recycling of the remaining metal.

For several years, the AIM recycling yard has been a source of concern for residents of Saint John’s residents due to issues such as noise, dust, and pollution.

There were no reported injuries in either fires.