TAMPA, Fla. — Hillsborough County Fire Rescue (HCFR) said a second firefighter was taken to he hospital as crews continue to battle a three-alarm scrapyard fire in Tampa, over seven hours after it started.

HCFR said 911 dispatch received calls about the blaze at Liberty Recycling, located at 5207 St. Paul Street, just before 9:30 a.m.

The first arriving crews faced heavy flames and quickly escalated the response to a second and then a third alarm, according to HCFR.

As of noon Thursday, 37 HCFR units are on scene. HCFR said the operation had to be paused briefly due to lightning in the area. As of 5 p.m., crews were still on-scene and had used heavy machinery to move large debris piles to help get to the fire's core.


Two firefighters were injured and transported from the scene, and both are listed in stable condition, according to officials.
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