A tower truck from the Marietta Fire Department dumps water on a fire that broke out at the Guernsey Scrap Recycling facility Friday afternoon. Firefighters from seven different departments were on hand to get the fire under control. (Photo by Art Smith)

RENO — Area firefighters worked Friday afternoon to battle a blaze at a scrap recycling facility off Ohio 7 north of Marietta.

The fire was at Guernsey Scrap Recycling, 28087 Ohio 7, the site of another fire in May 2018.

The initial call to Washington County 911 came in at 12:51 p.m. Friday. With no local water source available, multiple units were shuttling water to the scene as law enforcement kept traffic on Ohio 7 moving while supporting the fire truck movements.

Units from Williamstown, Devola, Little Muskingum, Lower Salem, Reno, Marietta and Fearing fire departments responded to the fire in Reno where junk cars at the Guernsey Scrap Recycling were on fire.

Responders were using a drone to monitor hot spots in the fire. Marietta Fire Department sent its tower truck to put water on the fire from above. Other units were there to haul water and to pump water to the tower truck. Water was hauled from a hydrant at a nearby office complex.

Tanker trucks wait to unload water that was being used to extinguish the blaze. (Photo by Art Smith)

Following the initial report, Reno VFD immediately asked for mutual aid from the other departments.

“We could see the black smoke from burning tires when we got the call,” said Reno Assistant Chief Ted Patterson.

Reno Fire Chief Jon Bradford said responders eventually put about 60,000 gallons of water on the flames and were able to contain it by 4:30 p.m. Friday. The cause of the fire was unknown and remains under investigation. Previous experience at the facility in 2018 helped responders know how to best deal with Friday’s fire, he said.

A tower truck from the Marietta Fire Department dumps water on a fire that broke out at the Guernsey Scrap Recycling facility Friday afternoon. Firefighters from seven different departments were on hand to get the fire under control. (Photo by Art Smith)