The raging fire that erupted in a Billerica junkyard yesterday, not only sent enormous plumes of black smoke into the sky but also severely injured one employee. According to WCVB, investigators determined that a torch that was being used on a vehicle accidentally caused the fire at Jack's Used Cars & Parts.
Though the full extent of the damages is still being assessed, it is known that the fire caused the roof to collapse and engulfed the entire building as well as several old cars.
As NBC Boston reported, hazardous materials were on site, including propane tanks and vehicles with oil and gasoline still present. When the fire broke out, the Billerica Fire Department faced obstacles in combating the inferno, as the nearest hydrant was approximately 1,800 feet away. Billerica Fire Chief Robert Cole informed NBC Boston of the challenges in getting water to the scene due to the lack of a hydrant system over the railroad tracks near the junkyard.
A CBS Boston article detailed how severe the situation was, with multiple cars on fire, and a roof that caved in during the chaos. The fire department had a hard time getting a handle on the blaze due to the proximity of the hydrant, highlighting an important issue that deserves further consideration.
The injured man was evacuated from the scene before emergency crews arrived and subsequently transported by helicopter to Lahey Hospital and Medical Center in Burlington. The precise circumstances leading to the fire are still under investigation, but the presence of hazardous materials, as mentioned earlier, suggests an increased level of risk for those working in these spaces.
