More than 70 firefighters worked though the night to tackle a fire that ripped through a scrap metal yard in Byker, Newcastle.
Shepherd’s Scrap Metals, a walled yard that measures approximately 60 metres by 60 metres, contained a large number of used cars.
Also on site were a number of oxygen and propane cylinders, which along with the presence of diesel oil, could have aggravated the blaze, the fire service said.
Local businesses and homes around the area were warned to keep windows and doors shut from the huge plumes of smoke that billowed from the site.
Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service were called to the scene at 12.20pm on 19 May.
The fire was mostly out by 4pm, but crews remained on site throughout the night dampening down hotspots.
Two special aerial ladder platforms were used to tackle the blaze, and water was pumped from nearby River Tyne.
An investigation into the cause has now been launched.
Area manager Alan Robson, praised the fire crews involved.
He said: "This was a very intense and difficult incident and the fire developed very quickly, making it difficult to deal with, and our firefighters did extremely well to bring it under control as quickly as they did. This was a joint effort between ourselves and partner agencies and it is pleasing to note that no operational staff were injured during the incident."
