State officials say the scrapyard fire that blanketed North Adams, Massachusetts in thick black smoke last month was accidental.
The May 25th fire at the Apkins scrapyard on State Street produced dramatic images but resulted in no damage to surrounding buildings or injuries to residents or firefighters. Massachusetts Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey says the findings were the result of a joint investigation between state and local entities.
“While they were operating at the scrapyard and using some heavy equipment to prepare some of the materials that they were working with, a fire started as the result of gasoline vapors ignited on a vehicle that they were in the process of handling,” said Ostroskey.
He says fires of this nature are uncommon in Massachusetts.