Dive Brief:

• A recent fire at a Pueblo County, CO scrap metal company has investigators considering ways to prevent another fire there. The Monday blaze at American Iron and Metal was preceded by a fire there in April.
• Neighbors of the plant, where a pile of scrap car parts has repeatedly caught fire, complained of irritants in the air that affected their breathing and sight well after the most recent fire. The county health department issued a health advisory for the Blende and Salt Creek areas.
• Officials from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Emergency Response Unit recently were at the site monitoring air quality and water quality. The Salt and Fountain creeks, and the Arkansas River converge near the scrap metal business.

Dive Insight:

While local fire officials have said American Iron Metal has a yearly issued special permit to operate its facility, operations there are being reviewed. Pueblo Rural Fire Chief Bret Marscola said the company’s owner has been willing to work with fire officials, allowing them access to the site to do their work. "He wants the people of the community to know he’s trying to take care of this," Marscola said.