TOPSHAM

The state fire marshal’s office was unable to determine the cause of a fire in a scrap metal pile that burned for hours Monday night at Grimmel Industries in Topsham.

The fire, reported at around 6 p.m. Monday, drew a dozen fire departments from Sabattus to Wiscasset to North Yarmouth. Hydrants on the property were broken and the main challenge was getting water to the scene. Firefighters left the scene shortly before 3 a.m. Tuesday.

Sgt. Ken Grimes with the Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office said Thursday the fire has been classified as undetermined. The pile of debris ablaze was rearranged during firefighting efforts necessary to extinguish the fire, Grimes said.

The scrap metal yard has had a handful of fires in the last couple of decades. Part of the reason may be due to the process, Grimes said.

“They take scrap metals and bits and pieces of recycling material and anything that is in large chunks, if you will, like cars, goes through the shredder,” he said. “And the shredding is quite violent and as you can imagine, cars have pieces of combustible materials — plastics, insulation, fluids such as gasoline and oils all mixed in — and then the shredding process itself can produce sparks and hot metals. All the ingredients for a fire.”

Grimes said he has no estimated cost in damages resulting from the fire.

Fire timeline

• THE FIRE, reported at around 6 p.m. Monday, drew a dozen fire departments from Sabattus to Wiscasset to North Yarmouth. Firefighters left the scene shortly before 3 a.m. Tuesday.

dmoore@timesrecord.com

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