The fire at a scrapyard near Davis Monthan Air Force Base was caused by a small piece of metal that ignited in a metal shredder, officials said.
The fire started this morning at a recycling facility in the 6500 block of East Drexel Road near South Wilmot and East Valencia roads.
It started when a metal chip in the shredder sparked, causing the blaze, said Capt. Grant Cesarek a Rural/Metro spokesman.
A water truck from Davis Monthan helped bring water for crews to use since the area lacks a hydrant, he said. The fire was put it out quickly, he said.
Crews battled a fire at the same scrap yard in late December.
In that fire, something spontaneously combusted in a large scrap pile about 40 feet high and 200 feet long made up of rubber tires, metals and plastics.
