A fire was raging in piles of tires outside the recycling company Hringrás by Klettagardar in the Sundahöfn harbor in Reykjavík early this morning. The fire was reported between 2 and 3 am. All firefighters on call and additional manpower were called to the scene. By 9 am this morning the fire had been extinguished.
From Sundahöfn. Photo by Páll Stefánsson.
A thick column of smoke extended from the fire, which southeasterly winds blew out to the ocean, ruv.is reports.
However, fire marshal Jón Vidar Matthíasson asked people living and working in the vicinity to close their windows and avoid inhaling the smoke as it is toxic.
Matthíasson said firefighters will continue working at the site of the fire until this afternoon. A few streets in the area are still closed. The source of the fire is unknown.
Managing director of Hringrás Einar Ásgeirsson told mbl.is that he suspects arson. “All we know is that given our standards and regulations this isn’t supposed to happen. For this to happen, outside involvement is required and although I’d rather not think along those lines, that is what everything is indicating.”
In 2004 an extensive fire occurred in the same location. An apartment complex on Kleppsvegur had to be evacuated because of the smoke and approximately 500 people were taken to mass help centers.
ESA
