Firefighters battle massive fire at Broward hazardous waste drop-off site

An explosion early Friday morning ignited a massive fire at the Broward County Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Site, prompting a large emergency response from Pompano Beach Fire Rescue and multiple state and federal agencies.

Fire crews were dispatched just after 6 a.m. to the facility at 2780 N. Powerline Road, where they found hundreds of propane tanks burning and exploding in an outdoor storage yard. Ladder 61 was first on the scene, and due to the scale and danger of the fire, additional units, including a second aerial apparatus, were quickly dispatched, according to the City of Pompano Beach.

“Our crews faced an extremely dangerous situation with hundreds of pressurized propane tanks involved,” said Fire Chief Pete McGinnis in a statement. “Their quick actions and coordinated response helped prevent a much more severe incident.”

No injuries have been reported, but the explosion posed a significant threat to surrounding storage units and the environment.

Specialized teams from Broward County HazMat arrived to monitor air quality and test for hazardous substances.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection, ATF, and the State Fire Marshal were also called in to investigate and assess the site for potential environmental damage.

Fire crews remained at the location through the morning to ensure the fire was fully extinguished and the area was safe.