Smoke from scrapyard fire blankets Barrie

Thick smoke has blanketed much of Barrie after a fire broke out at a scrapyard in central Barrie on Monday morning.

Barrie Fire officials tell CTV News that the fire originated at a scrapyard at All Ontario Recycling on Tiffin Street and that the 911 call came in before noon.

"There was a large scrap pile and the fire started somewhere on the inside," said Derek Wilson, acting chief for Barrie Fire. "We have aerial devices applying water defensively and some heavy equipment pulling the pile apart, and then we're wetting it down as it gets pulled apart to control the fire."

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The large pile of scraps and vehicles that was on fire emitted heavy black smoke over the area.

Police confirmed that nearby residents on Ferndale Drive were evacuated, but they have since returned to their homes. No injuries were reported.

Police closed the area around Ferndale Drive North and Tiffin Street to all traffic while the scene was still active. The Ministry of Labour has been assigned to the investigation.

The exact nature of how the fire started remains unclear.

"We won't really know until we dig down into the pile and get the source," added Wilson. He confirmed that the heavy flames and smoke were extinguished around 2 p.m.