Small Fire at Gopher Resource Prompts Short-Lived Evacuation

Gopher Resource evacuated portions of its recycling facility on Monday while Eagan Fire Department fought a slow-burning fire in a refuse pile at the business.

The fire department responded at 8:30 a.m. on Monday after the fire was discovered. While Gopher's facilities didn't sustain significant damage during the incident, the fire took two hours to put out and eventually involved roughly 30 firefighters, Eagan Fire Chief Mike Scott said.

Gopher Resource recycles lead-acid batteries and other lead-bearing materials. The fire started in a pile of low-lead waste that was slated for incineration, Scott said. As part its regular precautions, the department decontaminated all its equipment after the fire, the fire chief added.

To make sure there was no fire-related damage, firefighters also used thermal imaging to evaluate the ceiling of warehouse where the fire took place, Scott said. In the last 18 months, the department has responded to two other minor fires at Gopher Resource, Scott said.

"It was more of a smoldering fire, because it was in piles of trash, and it just took a while to dig through them and make sure the thing was out before we left," Scott said.