Scrap Metal Yard Fire in Sitra: Interior Ministry Reports Dense Smoke and Three Worker Evaluations

Sitra, Bahrain—A dense plume of black smoke billowed across the southern industrial horizon on Thursday afternoon. Fire broke out among massive piles of compacted scrap metal at a recycling facility in the Sitra industrial area, feeding rapidly on old plastics and industrial oils. Three facility workers suffered acute smoke inhalation while attempting to battle the initial flames with handheld extinguishers.

Civil defense fire engines arrived from multiple municipal stations, deploying heavy water and foam streams to contain the spreading inferno. Thick, toxic smoke restricted visibility across neighboring industrial blocks, prompting authorities to issue temporary shelter advisories for nearby factories. Paramedics treated the three affected workers on site before transferring them to the local health clinic for observation.

Industrial safety inspectors cordoned off the facility perimeter as firefighters worked systematically to cool the smoldering metal heaps. Heavy excavation machinery was brought in to turn over the compressed scrap heaps, allowing firefighters to douse hidden pockets of fire. The aggressive response prevented the blaze from spreading to adjacent chemical storage warehouses.

"The smoke rose so fast that it turned midday into twilight across the compound," said a nearby factory supervisor who watched the operation. "The scrap piles burn extremely hot once plastics and rubber catch fire. Civil defense contained a very dangerous situation."

Ministry of Interior investigators initiated a formal inquiry to determine the exact ignition source within the recycling yard. Environmental protection officers monitored air quality levels surrounding the industrial zone as smoke dissipation continued. Fire crews remained stationed at the facility overnight to monitor cooling operations and prevent flare-ups.