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U.S. NEWS Thursday 20 February 2020

Fire at Minnesota recycling plant affecting air quality

BECKER, Minn. (AP) — Of- lieve the fire could last sev- day. Big Lake Police Chief
ficials are monitoring the eral more days. Residents Joel Scharf says the smell of
air quality in Becker where are not being asked to burning plastic and smoke
a fire at a metal recycling evacuate but are being wafting through town
plantcontinues to burn. asked to stay away from raised health concerns
Firefighters continued to the immediate area of the from residents.
fight the stubborn blaze fire. Firefighter Toni Knutson says
Wednesday after working Becker Police Chief Brent the fire is burning under a
all day and through the Baloun says the cause of huge pile of cars. She says
night Tuesday at Northern the fire remains unknown. cranes are being used to
Metal Recycling plant. Prevailing winds have been remove the vehicles from
The fire still had a number of blowing smoke away from the pile one-by-one as fire-
hot spots and was not fully Becker. fighters spray water on the
under control as of early "We've been fortunate with fire.
Wednesday afternoon. the wind," Baloun said. Knutson says dozens of fire-
In a Facebook update But residents in Big Lake, 9 fighters are on the scene, Icy covered junker autos lie in a heap as firefighters on Wednes-
Wednesday evening, the miles (14 kilometers) south- with aid coming from as far day morning remained on the scene of a fire that has been
Becker Police Department east of Becker, caught as two hours away. burning for more than 24 hours at the Northern Metal Recycling
said fire investigators be- most of the drift Wednes- q plant, Feb. 19, 2020, in Becker, Minn. Associated Press