According to EPFD Spokesman Hector Aranda, friction may have been a factor as scrap metal rubbed against itself and in the process may have ignited foam within the scrap pile to produce an impressive blaze that took Eagle Pass firefighters the better part of the morning to subdue.
"Basically what burned was a conveyor belt that crushes car parts and is delivered to a pile where it is stored," stated Aranda, "The pile was so high that the flames damaged the conveyor belt at the top of the machine."
He added that estimated damages are at about $15,000.00 in parts and damage to parts that could've otherwise been sold. There were damages to rollers and to the conveyor belt itself.
The firefighters battled the blaze with 1 3/4" hoses and flame-retardant foam with Engine 1 and Ladder 1. The report came in at 9:40 AM and the last unit left the scene at 11:30 AM.