Investigators probe fire in East Liverpool

EAST LIVERPOOL -- Fire investigators are seeking the cause of a blaze Monday that destroyed a recycling business that occupied a block on the city's east side.
Firefighters estimated loss "in the hundreds of thousands of dollars" at Six Recycling, 505 Maple St. The business is owned by Norman Six of nearby Chester, W.Va. About half of the steel and aluminum building was ablaze when firefighters arrived just after 6 p.m.
Neighbors reported hearing several explosions, which firefighters said were from propane and acetelyne tanks used in the business, as well as barrels of recycled oil, and the fuel in front-end loaders and skid loaders kept in the building.
Some petroleum products and other pollutants ran off into a nearby creek, which empties into the Ohio River. The department's hazardous materials team worked to keep the pollutants out of the river, and notified the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Coast Guard of the possible river contamination.
About 15 firefighters battled the blaze; no injuries were reported. Firefighters had the blaze under control by 7:30 p.m. and remained on the scene until around 11:30 p.m.