Explosion at Holbrook recycling yard injures two, sparks fire probe

A damaged tank of unknown gas exploded at Arrow Metal and E-Waste Recycling in Holbrook, injuring two workers and setting off a fire at the Lincoln Avenue scrapyard. Police said one employee was taken for evaluation after the blast, which sent a loud boom across central Suffolk County and drew an immediate emergency response to 1120 Lincoln Ave.

Suffolk County police said employees were working in the yard when the tank was damaged. That damage triggered the explosion and a subsequent fire, turning a routine work morning at the recycling site into a police and fire scene. Investigators had not immediately identified what kind of gas was inside the tank, and the case was referred to the arson unit for further examination.

The injuries were described as minor, but the incident raised fresh questions about what materials were being handled and how the tank was stored or secured before it was damaged. Arrow Metal and E-Waste Recycling says its Holbrook yard handles scrap metal, e-waste, batteries and lead, all of which add to the fire and contamination risks that can come with industrial recycling operations.

The Holbrook location operates Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 7 a.m. to noon. The yard sits in a dense stretch of Lincoln Avenue where industrial parcels, homes and small businesses are close enough that a single blast can be heard and felt well beyond the property line.

The Suffolk County Fire Marshal’s Office is the county agency responsible for fire investigations and technical response assistance in incidents like this one. Its follow-up will likely focus on how the tank was damaged, whether the gas container was properly labeled or handled, and whether any maintenance or code issues played a role in the explosion.

The site also sits on a corridor with a history of fire calls. Holbrook Fire Department records show a 2009 scrapyard fire at Chauncey Metal Processors at 1111 Lincoln Ave. and another fire at the Town of Islip Recycling Center on Lincoln Avenue that drew mutual aid from Sayville, Bohemia, Lakeland and Holtsville.

Industry safety guidance has long warned that recycling yards can hide dangerous materials, including gas tanks, propane tanks, aerosol cans and lithium-ion batteries. At a site handling scrap and e-waste, a single damaged container can create the kind of fire and explosion risk that now sits at the center of the Holbrook investigation.