Fire crews battle Køge scrap blaze into Sunday morning

A large fire in a waste storage site at the harbour in Køge is expected to remain alight until Sunday morning, DR reports. Firefighting was expected to continue for another five to six hours shortly after 5am, according to Boye Rasmussen, duty officer with Midt- and West Zealand Police.

The fire broke out on Nordhavnsvej in Køge on Saturday. The site is operated by NCC Industry A/S, a supplier of stone and gravel.

A large pile of scrap metal was still burning early Sunday. Rasmussen described the fire as “quite severe” and said it was difficult to extinguish because the pile contains materials such as car parts and other metal scrap that can burn intensely.

Fire crews were working to contain the blaze by digging around it to prevent it from spreading through the rest of the pile. The work was producing substantial amounts of smoke.

The smell of the fire could eventually reach much of Zealand, including Roskilde, Ballerup and Bagsværd, Rasmussen said.

Police continued to advise residents to close doors and windows if they could smell the smoke. The recommendation applied to Greve, Solrød, Ishøj, Ballerup and Bagsværd.

Police had also warned hospitals, hotels and similar facilities near the fire in Køge so they could close doors, windows and ventilation systems if necessary. People who feel unwell because of the smoke smell should contact a hospital or doctor.

The cause of the fire was not known. Police said it would be investigated after firefighters had extinguished the blaze.