Fire at YRC Freight in Copley closes roads, causes evacuation

Four 165-pound containers of dimethyl ether, a flammable gas, in the loading dock at the YRC Freight trucking terminal in Copley were on fire the late morning of Aug. 9.
Copley Police Chief Michael Mier said the fire was called in about 9:15 a.m. and caused the closure of portions of South Cleveland-Massillon Road, as well as Copley Road. Children at the nearby Kids Academy of Copley child care center were evacuated to Copley High School, and nearby businesses also were given the option to evacuate as a precaution.

Mier said several fire departments were hosing down the containers and surrounding buildings as a precaution, and they were still there as of noon. The Summit County Hazardous Material Response Team was on scene.

“We are letting it burn itself out,” said Mier.
YRC employee Pete Venturini said one man suffered minor burns, but “he was all right.”

“We heard a noise and then a boom and saw fire coming out of the trailer,” said Venturini. “Everyone was running. It was very scary.”

Venturini said company officials were sending everyone home.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, according to officials.