(New Carlisle, IN) - A fire at a scrap metal facility east of New Carlisle kept multiple fire departments busy for many hours earlier this week. The fire department there has released more details.
On Tuesday around 2:30 Central time, fire broke out at OmniSource on Smilax Rd. Over the course of the afternoon, nearly two dozen emergency units from 10 fire departments responded. They were on scene for over eight hours.
According to the New Carlisle Fire Department, first responders immediately observed a large column of smoke and requested additional resources, including tanker support for a water shuttle operation. Water was hauled in so as to avoid overwhelming the town's water system. Crews also used Hamilton Grove’s private water system for the filling of tankers.
The metals shredding and recycling operation on Smilax Rd. south of U.S. 20 was the scene of multiple large fire in past years. Authorities say a new owner, OmniSource, instituted additional safety procedures to reduce the frequency and severity of these incidents since taking over the facility in 2020. The last incident of this magnitude there occurred in 2021.
Below is a list of agencies responding to Tuesday's blaze:
Indiana agencies assisting included:
- Saint Joseph County 9-1-1
- Saint Joseph County Fire Territory
- Clay Fire Territory
- Centre Township Fire Department
- Liberty Township Fire Department
- Kankakee Township Fire Department
- Lincoln Township Fire Department
Michigan agencies assisting included:
- Galien Township Fire Department
- Bertrand Township Fire Department
- Weesaw Township Fire Department
According to NCFD authorities, the coordinated efforts of all responding agencies helped bring this incident to a safe conclusion and prevent injuries during a prolonged and resource-intensive operation.
