What was all that black smoke in the sky? It involved oil tankers
Firefighters have extinguished a massive fire that broke out early Wednesday at a used oil recycling refinery near Doral.
The call came in as a possible oil fire at E.M.C. Oil Corp., 8470 NW 68th St. around 7 a.m., according to Miami-Dade Fire Rescue. At least 34 units were sent to the area.
By 8 a.m., the fire had overtaken most of the oil tankers in a lot, heavy and dark smoke filling the sky. The smoke could be seen from miles away.
E.M.C. Oil Corp. and the surrounding buildings in West Miami-Dade were evacuated as a precaution while firefighters worked to contain and douse the flames.
“We had multiple explosions during firefighting, which made us have to attack the fire from a little bit further back,” Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Lt. Kristen Miller told WSVN. “We used our ladder units and also, like I said, our foam truck to be able to get in and penetrate the fire.”
The commercial and industrial waste management company is in an area of commercial warehouses and is near the border of unincorporated Miami-Dade and the city of Doral. Several roads were closed and traffic was redirected until crews were able to stop the flames.
The fire is “under control,” the fire department reported at 9 a.m.
Drone video captured firefighters extinguishing the flames, multiple charred oil tankers covered in white foam. Some were still smoldering.
It’s still unclear what caused the fire. There were no injuries.
E.M.C. Oil Corp. did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
This story was originally published January 15, 2020 at 7:59 AM.
