Akron firefighters spent most of Wednesday battling a fire at a recycling company warehouse on the city’s west side.
No one was injured. The building was declared a total loss.
The fire at the privately owned facility located on Silver Street was discovered around 8 a.m. in an isolated, free-standing building.
Witnesses reported seeing heavy black smoke and flames coming out of the area, which is located off Hickory Street in the valley just south of the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail.
Firefighters had to use a back hoe to knock down a wall to attack hot-spots in the building.
Deputy Chief Dale Evans said firefighters believe the building was used for metal scrapping.
An employee warned firefighters that propane was stored inside the structure. Periodic explosions sent flames and smoke high in the air and prompted those gathered to watch the fire to back up. “I wouldn’t go up there,” a woman warned one man who approached some woods overlooking the site. “That’s propane!”
Fire officials said they initially took a defensive approach as the roof of the building partially collapsed.
Evans said they had to use side streets to attack the flames.
Five fire engines, two battalion commanders and a shift commander vehicle were sent to battle the flames. An Akron water department official was also called. The warehouse is near where the city recently had a major water main break.