Spontaneous combustion blamed for east-end blaze

A fire at a North End metal recycling yard is believed to have been caused by spontaneous combustion in a large pile of metal and combustible materials.

The stubborn fire and heavy smoke initially caused the voluntary evacuation of some nearby homes this morning but residents returned to their houses a couple of hours later.

No one was hurt in the blaze and damage was confined to the scrap pile.

It’s believed that a large pile of scrap metal and other debris spontaneously combusted, said Bob Simpson, public information officer for Hamilton emergency services.