Multiple fire crews from the Missoula area responded to a large fire Sunday afternoon at Axmen Recycling, where more than 100 stacked cars burned in the wrecking yard with flames reaching up to 50 feet high.

The fire was reported just before 1 p.m. at the Wye. The initial cause was not clear.

Missoula Rural Fire District Battalion Chief Ron Lubke said crews arrived to find cars stacked 3 to 6 high and fully engulfed.

“They arrived to find a large pile of cars on fire, some cars anywhere from 3 to 6 stacked high. Probably we’re estimating at least 100 cars, possibly more, that were on fire. We had about 50 ft flames coming off the pile on arrival,” Lubke said.

Lubke said the fire involved cars that had not yet been processed by the recycling center, meaning oil, gas and other flammable fluids were still inside, adding to the intensity of the fire. Some tires and potentially fuel tanks were exploding at the scene. No injuries were reported.

Buildings on the property were threatened when crews arrived. “We did have some buildings that were threatened when we arrived. That was our priority was to keep the fire from getting into the buildings or into other piles of junk cars,” Lubke said.

KPAX-TV CBS/CW+ 8 Missoula

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A box of bees fell from a truck at a Burlington intersection early Friday morning, prompting a public safety alert despite no known stings, according to Burlington Fire Department Chief Rob Toth. The box fell off the truck around 6 a.m. at the corner of Burlington Boulevard and Fairhaven, Toth said.

The incident led to a Skagit Ready Alert warning residents of a bee swarm at 100 N. Burlington Blvd. and telling people to avoid the area until further notice. The alert said the bees came from an overturned truck, but Toth said that part was not accurate.

Toth described the scene as “not impressive” and said he had to call dispatch to make sure he had arrived at the right location when he responded. He said no one, as far as he knew, was stung. Toth said there were people at the scene scooping up the fallen bees.

KING-TV NBC 5 Seattle

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PHOTOS: Authorities seized more than 1,000 marijuana plants and discovered hazardous chemicals and bear traps while investigating an illegal marijuana grow operation at a warehouse in Pacific, according to police. The investigation began after Valley Regional Fire Authority crews responded to a commercial fire at a warehouse in the 100 block of Stewart Road Southwest on May 23.

Firefighters extinguished the blaze and searched the building for possible victims, but found none. During their search, firefighters discovered evidence of a marijuana grow operation and requested assistance from law enforcement. A more thorough search of the property led to the discovery of active bear traps, authorities said.

KOMO-TV ABC 4 Seattle

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The EV‑Drill LANCE—deployed by a single firefighter much like a floor jack—is designed to interrupt thermal runaway by delivering cooling water directly into compromised battery modules.

The post PA Fire Department Adds New Tool for EV Battery Fires appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

Beckley City Council reviewed fire truck bids, with the lowest bid at $1,161,452.

The post Beckley (WV) Reviewing Three Fire Truck Bids appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.