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Large fire burning at Trademark Metals and Recycling near Port of Tampa

Posted at 5:36 PM, Dec 02, 2016
and last updated 2016-12-03 12:54:01-05

UPDATE: On Saturday morning, the scene outside of Trademark Metals and Recycling Center was quiet. 

There were no signs of the raging metal recycling materials fire or the firefighters who brought the blaze under control on Port Sutton Road east of Tampa by late Friday night. 

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. 

ORIGINAL STORY: Tampa Fire Rescue is currently battling a large two-alarm fire near the Port of Tampa.

The fire was reported at the Trademark Metals and Recycling Center located at 4943 Port Sutton Road.

The view from Action Air 1 shows large piles of debris burning and thick black smoke billowing into the air.

Smoke can be be seen from across Tampa Bay.

Fire crews say the fire is from a pile of metal that caught fire.

There have been no injuries reported.  The cause of the fire is unknown.

Crews say there are no immediate health threats due to the smoke, however, they recommend people take precautions.

"Anybody that has any respiratory problems that may even be on the St. Pete side of the bay," said Corey Dierdorff, spokesman for the Hillsborough Co. Fire Dept., "you may want to leave your windows closed."

He says they're closely monitoring the situation and says they expect crews to be out throughout the night.

"Due to just the size of the pile and what's inside the pile," he said, "metal burns really hot and it burns really slowly."  

TRAFFIC ALERTS: 

  • SB 50th Street is closed
  • SB US-41 is closed at Port Sutton

Action News has reported on several fires at the facility in the past including incidents in October 2013 and November 2007.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS ALERT.  REFRESH FOR UPDATES.