Battery Spark Caused Flash Fire At Brick Recycling Company Fire: Authorities

BRICK, NJ — A spark from a battery caused a flash fire at that burned tires and vehicles at the Brick Recycling Company Monday, witnesses and authorities said.

No one was injured in the fire, including firefighters who battled the flames amid 95-degree temperatures on Monday, Sgt. Neal Pedersen of the Brick Township Police Department said.

Kevin Batzel, director of the Brick Township Bureau of Fire Prevention, said fluids were being removed from a vehicle at the site when a battery caused a spark that triggered a flash fire, Pedersen said. The flash fire then spread to nearby tires, they said.

All four Brick Township fire companies — Pioneer Hose, Breton Woods, Laurelton and Herbertsville — along with the Silverton Volunteer Fire Company, responded to the blaze, they said

Because there is no water lines on site, a hose had to be connected from a hydrant near the Elks Lodge across the street and dragged far back into the site to fight the fire, Batzel said.

The fire at the business at 2480 Hooper Ave., which recycles scrap metal, appliances, vehicles and an assortment of other items, sent clouds of black smoke into the air that could be seen for several miles.

Patch reader Tyler Gaskill of Brick said the fire was challenging because of the temperatures in the 90s and because of the proximity of neighboring buildings.

The fire resulted in the closure of Hooper Avenue between Drum Point Road and Beaverson Boulevard for about an hour as firefighters brought it under control.

Patch readers said the smoke could be seen from Ocean County College and the Silverton section of Toms River, and shared photos of the smoke:

Main photo by Thomas O'Dowd