Scrap yard fire on MacLean Drive prompted water-tanker shuttle in Timmins

Timmins Fire Department Station 5 responded to a report of an outdoor fire on MacLean Drive on July 15, 2026, and the call was upgraded while crews were en route to what the department described as a large fire at a local scrap yard. The fire department said it also dispatched additional water tankers from Stations 1, 3 and 4.

The fire produced heavy black smoke that was visible throughout Timmins because mixed materials were burning in the scrap yard, the fire department said. Firefighters also set up a water-tanker shuttle, which can bring large trucks through neighbourhood streets and requires room for crews to work.

Because of the fire’s location, firefighters shuttled water from the corner of MacLean Drive and J.V. Bonhomme Boulevard to portable water tanks placed on site to maintain a continuous water supply, according to the fire department.

The department said water-shuttle operations involve large tanker trucks travelling back and forth between the fire scene and a hydrant, and that those vehicles need clear access to manoeuvre.

Vehicles parked along roadways, on shoulders, or near emergency scenes can delay emergency operations and create hazards for firefighters and the public, the department said.

The fire department said emergency scenes can change rapidly, and that driving toward or stopping near a fire to watch can interfere with the response and put responders and bystanders at risk.

The department asked residents not to drive toward emergency scenes or park on road shoulders or access routes while crews are on scene, and to follow road closures and directions from emergency personnel so emergency vehicles can move safely.