Gasoline Fire at Brick Recycling Extinguished

Firefighters extinguished a morning blaze at Brick Recycling on Friday, officials said.

A fire at the private recycling center left the road closed for a short time as firefighters moved equipment, however no injuries were reported, and the blaze was placed under control by 11 a.m.

Brick Fire Marshal Kevin C. Batzel said the fire started when a drill an employee was using to drain gasoline from a junked car knicked the side of a metal containment unit, sparking the fire.

A hole is drilled into a car's fuel tank, and the fluids are then drained into a trough which leads to two containment units, Batzel said. The fire, in turn, was also contained to those units, he said.

Most fire and police personnel had left the scene by noon. The Ocean County Health Department was still on scene inspecting the site, however.

Brick Fire District No. 1, Pioneer Hose Fire Company, Breton Woods Fire Company and the Berkeley Township Hazmat Unit responded to the blaze, as well as the Brick Township Police Department and Brick Police EMS.

The recycling center would remain closed until around 1 p.m., officials said.