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Fire engulfs Richmond scrap yard on Mitchell Island

Richmond Fire Rescue is on the scene of an "extensive" fire inside an auto wrecker scrap yard on Mitchell Island.
Graeme Wood

Richmond Fire Rescue is on the scene of an "extensive" fire inside an auto wrecker scrap yard on Mitchell Island.

In the late morning, large black plumes of smoke billowed from a pile of cars inside the property along the 13000-block of Mitchell Road, east of the Knight Street Bridge.

The smoke spread westward, over Richmond by noon.

Fire department spokesperson Brian MacLeod said the fire was called in at 11:27 a.m. Friday. Seven fire trucks are on the scene as of 1 p.m. battling the fire, which is contained within the property.

MacLeod said it will take some time to determine the cause of the fire as crews will need to first get to the bottom of the car pile.

He said while there's "extensive" damage, there are no reported injuries and the fire is not threatening neighbouring properties.

"We're told there's no fuel in the cars. Anything can start these fires, but we'll have to get to the bottom of the pile to start the investigation," said MacLeod.

CBC reporter Gian-Paolo Mendoza said, via Twitter, he could hear explosions coming from the scrap yard.