Crews fight 4 fire alarms at a renewable energy plant in Doral; Residents of nearby houses were asked to stay at home

DORAL, Florida. (WSVN) — Firefighters fought intense blazes for hours after a major fire broke out at a renewable energy plant in Doral.

More than 50 Miami-Dade rescue teams arrived at the scene of a fire at the Covanta Energy Plant, located at 6990 NW 97th Ave., around 2:20 p.m. Sunday.

Units of the Doral Police Force and the Miami-Dade Police Force were also sent.

A few hours later, relentless flames lit up the night sky, and clouds of ash and dark soot covered Doral and parts of western Miami-Dade County.

Arriving crews found heavy black smoke and fire coming from the structure.

At a press conference held on Sunday evening, MDFR chief Ray Jadalla said the fire appeared to have started from a conveyor belt when debris caught fire. The fire spread to four of the facility’s 11 buildings.

In a statement, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levin Cava advised nearby residents, especially those with respiratory conditions, to refrain from going outside due to the smoke.

“As a precaution, we ask all residents living in the area to stay at home and keep windows closed,” she said.

As of Sunday evening, more than 200 firefighters remain at the waste-to-energy facility, continuing to fight the fire from the ground and from the air.

Jadalla said they were able to demolish it down to two buildings.

At a press conference held on Sunday evening, Levin Kava said all plan personnel were quickly evacuated. No harm done.

The mayor added that Doral residents can expect notices due to heavy smoke in the area.

“I am deeply grateful to our brave rescuers who once again risk their lives for the safety of our community,” Levin Kava said in a statement.

MDFR Assistant Fire Chief Jason Fernandez said they were keeping an eye on the wind.

Jadalla said they tested air quality two miles downwind and the results were negative for oxygen displacement, hydrogen sulfide and volatile fuel vapor.

The fire chief also drew comparisons between the fire and the late-January fire that broke out at the New World Condominium in Miami Gardens and left about 200 people motionless.

Jadalla said he expects firefighting at the renewable energy plant to continue for the next 48 hours.

“It will be a long-term fire,” Jadalla said.

Fighting this fire is particularly difficult, Jadalla said, because all parts of the buildings, scaffolding and walkways are made of sheet metal. In addition, the footbridges normally used by units are deformed, making access difficult.

As the battle continues to escalate, the area’s residents worry about the dangers that may lie ahead.

“You don’t know if it could ever explode,” a local resident said.

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