OPA-LOCKA, Fla. – Firefighters battled a junkyard fire Thursday in Opa-locka.
The fire was reported shortly before 8 a.m. on Cairo Lane near Northwest 127th Street.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Lt. Felipe Lay said an employee at the junkyard suffered third-degree burns and was taken to a local trauma center.
He said firefighters extinguished the fire within an hour.
"These are difficult fires to extinguish because of their location and what's burning, but fortunately, we were able to get it under control with only one injury," Lay said.
Firefighters said people who notice fires near their homes or workplace should call 911 rather than try to extinguish the flames themselves, especially is what's burning could be hazardous.
"We always advise if there is anything unusual burning near your home, just stay away -- call 911, because you may not know what exactly is burning," Lay said.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, but Lay said fires at junkyards are fairly common.
"They happen throughout the year because of the nature of the components and materials that are gathered in these junkyards," he said.