Cooler but still well above normal this week

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St. Paul firefighters spent hours battling a large fire that produced 70-foot-high flames at an industrial site near the Mississippi River on Saturday.

The fire erupted in a vehicle scrapyard operated by Gerdau Steel, along Red Rock Road near Interstate 494 and the Wakota Bridge. 

The St. Paul Fire Department reported that crews were called at about 12:30 a.m.

"When they got there they saw a high volume of smoke and flames and called for additional resources," Deputy Fire Chief Roy Mokosso said.

Mokosso said crews were on scene for about 12 hours. Ten fire rigs and more than 40 firefighters responded to the scene. 

The fire remains under investigation, but Mokosso said officials don't believe it was intentionally set. The pile where the fire occurred contained old vehicles that Gerdau processes for their metal parts.

Mokosso said vehicle scrapyards are full of things that can burn for a long time, including tires, foam, plastic and leftover fuel.

Minnesota News

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Elizabeth Dunbar

Author

MPR News Staff

St. Paul firefighters battled a large fire that produced 70-foot-high flames at an industrial site near the Mississippi River on Saturday morning.

St. Paul firefighters battled a large fire

St. Paul firefighters battle large fire at industrial site

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