Cause of Joplin recycling center building fire under investigation, building is a total loss

(From the Joplin Fire Department)

Wednesday, 9/19/18 at 9:41 PM: Joplin Fire units were dispatched to the area of 4th and Tyler for a possible structure fire.

JFD units arrived at 515 S. Tyler to find a large commercial structure well involved, with smoke and flames coming from the building. Fire personnel made a defensive attack due to the advancement of the fire as well as the presence of hazardous materials within the structure. Those hazardous materials caused several explosions during the firefighting efforts.

The fire was reported controlled at 7:51 AM Thursday, 20 September. Fire department personnel currently remain on scene monitoring any remaining smoldering material. The building the fire originated in was a total loss.

 Fire personnel were able to stop the fire from advancing to a connected structure. The fire remains under investigation. No civilian injuries were reported. One firefighter was transported to a local hospital for treatment of heat exhaustion and released.



Note: City officials have confirmed with Republic Services, Joplin’s curbside recycling contractor, that this fire will not affect the City’s curbside recycling program. Residents should notice no changes to the program as it operates currently. Triple R Recycling was the processor that Republic utilized for the curbside program. However, Republic officials can utilize other options for this service as necessary due to the situation.

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Wednesday, 9/19/18 at 10:28 PM, Joplin Fire units, with the assistance of Redings Mill Fire and Webb City Fire, responded to 1000 E. Valley Street for a reported structure fire.

On arrival, personnel found a single-family residence with the front porch well involved in fire. The fire was extinguished before it damaged the interior of the structure. There were no reported injuries. Fire personnel were on scene for 30 minutes, the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

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Wednesday, 9/19/18 at 10:47 PM, Joplin Fire units, with the assistance of Redings Mill Fire, responded to 132 S. St. Louis for a reported structure fire.

On arrival, personnel found heavy fire and smoke coming from the back of a vacant single-family residence. Personnel made an aggressive attack on the fire and were able to place the fire under control in less than 20 minutes. There were no injuries to civilians or firefighters. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Fire personnel were on scene for 1.5 hours.

All three fire response efforts where aided by the Joplin Police Department and METS ambulance.