Blow torches blamed for blaze at Sims Metal

WEST POINT — Authorities says a fire at Sims Metal Management in West Point started when strong winds blew sparks from workers’ blow torches onto a pile of tires.

West Point fire chief Johnny Littlefield told The Daily Times Leader that workers were using blow torches near a big pile of tires March 23 to remove materials from the tires when the fire started.

Firefighters arrived about noon and fought the fire for nearly two hours.

Littlefield said it was fortunate that Sims Metal Management had cranes and other equipment to move some of the tires and other scrap metal out of the way so the fire could be put out or it would have taken a longer to extinguish.

Source: Associated Press