Fire crews still fighting flames at rubber tire recycling facility

Black smoke shoots from a fire north of Saskatoon on Monday, April 4, 2016. (PHOTO: Damien Kent/CTV Saskatoon)

Saskatoon fire crews are still battling flames at a rubber tire recycling business north of the city.

Thick smoke has been billowing from the site since Monday evening when firefighters responded to flames at the three-building Shercom Industries complex.

Two of the three buildings have so far been destroyed and crews are working to protect the remaining structure, the fire department said in a media release.

“The building has sustained smoke damage but is currently not affected by fire,” assistant fire chief Dave Bykowy said Tuesday afternoon.

Flames started in a warehouse that housed products and vehicles before spreading overnight into a connected building where about 20,000 pounds of shredded rubber and 80 barrels of polyurethane were being stored.

The third building houses the business’s main office. Firefighters sprayed foam in the second building Tuesday afternoon to stop flames from spreading to the third structure.

The provincial environment ministry is on scene, monitoring air quality. Firefighters are wearing oxygen breathing equipment to protect themselves.

About 80 people work at the Shercom facility.

No injuries have been reported.

--- with files from The Canadian Press