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York Salvage Yard Fire

 
Site Contact:
Ashley Nilsen
On-Scene Coordinator

(Nilsen.Ashley@epa.gov)

Site Location:
1173 Kings Mill Road
York, PA 17403
 response.epa.gov/YorkSalvageYardFire
NRC#: 1455843

Residents or local media who have questions about the response activities should contact the Unified Command Joint Information Center (JIC) at YorkSYF.pio@gmail.com.

 

Update 4: Unified Command Conducts HAZMAT Operations at York, PA Salvage Yard Response

YORK, PA (March 9, 2026)  –  As cleanup progresses at the J&K Salvage Yard, hazardous materials (HAZMAT) operations are ongoing to assess materials on the site impacted by the fire. 

 

Unified Command responders consisting of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP), York County Hazardous Materials Team, York Area United Fire and Rescue, York County Office of Emergency Management, and other response personnel have been working with drums of unknown product, using a combination of sampling and air monitoring to identify and categorize the material. After the material is identified, compatible substances will be combined where possible, and ultimately all will be packaged into proper containers for disposal off-site.

 

All personnel involved in the operation are wearing personal protective equipment to guard against possible exposure. Personal air monitoring is being conducted when opening containers.

Site perimeter air monitoring is being conducted to ensure that there is no release of materials. Additional monitoring and sampling in the area nearby the incident is ongoing to help identify potential hazards. As of 3/9, no health concerns have been detected from the air monitors.

Responders may be working intermittently around the rail trail in the next week or two. Closed areas will be marked with cones and should be avoided. 

While the work progresses on materials handling, Unified Command continues their air, land, and water operations around Codorus Creek and an unnamed tributary to recover and remove oil and debris associated with the salvage yard fire. Most of the oil work is being accomplished using booms, underflow dams, mechanical tools, and vacuums.

“We have made significant progress on the response to this incident and are moving to the next phase of HAZMAT cleanup or remediation,” said Dan Santoemma, York County HAZMAT. “I am grateful for the initial results we are seeing but we are staying vigilant as the cleanup continues.”

To view the photo gallery associated with this release, click here. To view the video clip associated with this release, click here. 

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Update 3: Unified Command Provides Update Following Overnight Rain at Response Site in York, Pa.

YORK, PA (March 6, 2026) – The Unified Command continues response operations following overnight heavy rainfall at the site of an oil spill at a salvage yard in York, Pa. 

Crews were on site early this morning checking containment measures and surveying for any additional oil deposits or sheen. Responders replaced or repositioned containment and deflection boom and assessed impacts to underflow dams. 

A large vacuum truck with a high-powered suction system is now being used on site to safely collect, transport, and dispose of oil-water mixtures and contaminated fluids from the sites. 

Prior to the storm, crews removed approximately 2,000 gallons of oily water from the unnamed tributary on the salvage yard. 

“Even with the heavy rain overnight, our Philadelphia Street boom is working as designed and remains in good shape,” said Incident Commander Ashley Nilsen, EPA Federal On-Scene Coordinator. “One of the reasons we place boom at multiple locations is so there’s layered backup measures in case we do lose one, we still have other protection in place. We also removed a good volume of the oil-water mixture before the weather moved in, which really helped limit potential impacts to the creek.”

Due to the increased water flow, some unrecovered oil or product may have moved downstream and could appear as a sheen on the surface of the water. A sheen is a thin, rainbow-colored film. While it can be visible over a wide area, it typically represents a very thin layer of material. Containment and absorbent boom is deployed downstream to help capture and recover floating product.

Future Actions

Crews will continue to conduct mitigation, containment, and recovery activities along the unnamed tributary, Codorus Creek, and Susquehanna River. Water sampling, air monitoring, and site assessment work is ongoing. 

The Unified Command’s top priority is to ensure the health and safety of the affected public and responders. 

The Unified Command consists of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP), York County Hazardous Materials Team, York Area Fire/York Regional Emergency Management, and Spring Garden Township. 

To view the photo gallery associated with this release, click here.

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Update 2: Unified Command Continues Cleanup and Mitigation Efforts for Oil Spill at Salvage Yard in York, Pa.

 YORK, PA (March 5, 2026) – The Unified Command is continuing coordinated air, land, and water operations to mitigate, contain, and cleanup oily water and oiled debris in and near Codorus Creek and an unnamed tributary associated with a recent fire at a salvage yard in York, Pa.

Shoreline Cleanup and Assessment Techniques (SCAT) crews are documenting shoreline conditions and mapping areas of oiling along the Codorus Creek, Susquehanna River, unnamed tributary located on the salvage yard. This information guides responders in their efforts to remove oil and oiled debris.

Fan-propelled boats (air boats) and utility boats are being used to safely access shallow and/or debris-laden sections of Codorus Creek and the Susquehanna River. These small boats enable crews to place and adjust booms closer to shorelines and within narrow areas.

Response crews continue to deploy preventative booming on Codorus Creek and the Susquehanna River to help prevent downstream migration of oil and protect sensitive areas. Crews are coordinating with SCAT teams on boom placement to address water conditions and enhance the capture of surface oil and debris.

Aerial drones are capturing imagery of boom placement, river conditions, and containment operations on the unnamed tributary, Codorus Creek, and the Susquehanna River. These images give the Unified Command information to fine-tune boom locations and plan current and future containment and cleanup. Drone flights are weather-dependent.

Responders have collected water samples from the unnamed tributary located on the salvage yard property upstream, downstream, and adjacent to the incident. This data supports ongoing water quality assessments and helps define the extent of impacts from the fire. As of March 4th, preliminary laboratory results confirmed that mitigation efforts along the unnamed tributary were successfully preventing oil from migrating into Codorus Creek. 

A website has been created to ensure information is readily accessible to the public.

Future Actions

Responders will continue to conduct aerial assessments and deploy resources to support containment and recovery operations. Water sampling is ongoing.

Unified Command will continue to provide updates on response activities to the public.

The Unified Command’s top priority is to ensure the health and safety of the affected public and responders.

To view the photo gallery associated with this release, click here.

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Update 1: Unified Command Works to Contain and Remove Oil from Incident Runoff at Salvage Yard in York, Pa.

YORK, PA (March 4, 2026) – The Unified Command, consisting of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP), York County Hazardous Materials Team, York Area Fire/York Regional Emergency Management, and Spring Garden Township, continues to assess, contain and recover oil and remove oiled debris in and near Codorus Creek and an unnamed tributary located within a salvage yard in York, Pa.  

Responders have deployed booms to collect and redirect surface oil toward collection points in the unnamed tributary and Codorus Creek. Underflow dams were constructed to mitigate any further discharge from the unnamed tributary. 

Underflow dams are a key tool used by oil spill responders to contain oil, fuel, and floating contaminants in streams, ditches, and creeks during environmental cleanup operations. They work by allowing cleaner water at the bottom to pass through a pipe while trapping floating contaminants behind the dam for recovery. These structures are critical for protecting water sources and mitigating environmental damage in small- scale, remote, or hard-to-reach locations.

Workers are also using mechanical tools and vacuums to recover and remove oil and oily debris. Vacuum systems use suction to draw floating oil, water-oil mixtures, and debris from surface water into storage tanks for future disposal.  

Future Actions

Responders will conduct boat operations, deploying preventative boom in the Susquehanna River and secondary downstream locations. Workers will also conduct Shoreline Cleanup and Assessment Techniques (SCAT) using aerial drones to assess shoreline conditions and cleanup effectiveness. Water sampling is ongoing.

Unified Command will continue to provide updates on ongoing cleanup and assessment activities to the public.  

The Unified Command’s top priority is to ensure the health and safety of the affected public and responders. 

To view the photo gallery associated with this release, click here. To view the video clip associated with this release, click here. 

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Unified Command Responds to Salvage Yard Fire and Oil Spill in York, Pa.
YORK, PA (March 2, 2026) – Local, state, and federal emergency response personnel have formed a Unified Command in response to a building fire and associated oil spill that occurred at J&K Salvage in York, Pa., on February 25, 2026.

Just before 2 pm on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026, emergency responders were dispatched to a commercial fire in the Spring Garden Township on the property of the salvage yard located at 1099 Kings Mill Road. Responders extinguished the fire at approximately 4 pm. The fire melted several dozen containers holding approximately 10,000 gallons of various oils, which seeped into the soil and a nearby unnamed tributary that leads to the Codorus Creek, creating the potential for migration beyond the immediate site.

The response is being coordinated under a Unified Command comprised of:

  • (EPA) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  • (PADEP) Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
  • York County Hazardous Materials Team
  • York Area Fire/York Regional Emergency Management
  • Spring Garden Township

Supporting partners to the Unified Command include:

  • U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Strike Team
  • Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency
  • South Central PA Taskforce, a joint taskforce representing nine area counties
  • Eastern York Emergency Management Agency

The Unified Command ensures that federal, state and local agencies are coordinating closely to protect public health and the environment. A Joint Information Center (JIC) has been established to coordinate clear and consistent updates for the public and the news media from the Unified Command.

Unified Command Activities to Date
Since February 25, responders have:

  • Set up containment booms along Codorus Creek and constructed underflow dams in the unnamed tributary to mitigate any further discharge of oil.
  • Contained seven drums of lithium-ion batteries damaged in the fire.
  • Established air monitoring stations along the site perimeter.
  • Collected water samples from downstream water intakes in the Susquehanna River in Wrightsville and Columbia, Pa.

Crews deployed on Monday, March 2, 2026, are monitoring air quality, positioning additional booms, and assessing oil pools along the Codorus and the Susquehanna River. Unified Command will continue to provide updates on ongoing cleanup and assessment activities to the public.

To view the photo gallery associated with this release, click here.

 

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Crews assessing burned area Boom deployment Crews deploying boom Crews overpacking damaged lithium ion batteries York Salvage Yard Fire Unified Command responders employ underflow dams, boom and skimming techniques to remove oil and waste from an unnamed tributary that leads to the Codorus Creek, March 3, 2026. Underflow dams are a key tool used by oil spill responders to contain oil, fuel, and floating contaminants in streams, ditches, and creeks during environmental cleanup operations. They work by allowing cleaner water at the bottom to pass through a pipe while trapping floating contaminants behind the dam for recovery. These structures are critical for protecting water sources and mitigating environmental damage in small-scale, remote, or hard-to-reach locations. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Chief Warrant Officer 3 Timothy Tamargo. York Salvage Yard Fire Unified Command responders employ boom and skimming techniques and safety air monitoring for workers removing oil and waste from an unnamed tributary that leads to the Codorus Creek, March 3, 2026. York Salvage Yard Fire Unified Command responders employ underflow dams, boom and skimming techniques to remove oil and waste from an unnamed tributary that leads to the Codorus Creek, March 3, 2026. York Salvage Yard Fire Unified Command responders employ underflow dams, boom and skimming techniques to remove oil and waste from an unnamed tributary that leads to the Codorus Creek, March 3, 2026. York Salvage Yard Fire Unified Command responders employ boom and skimming techniques and safety air monitoring for workers removing oil and waste from an unnamed tributary that leads to the Codorus Creek, March 3, 2026. York Salvage Yard Fire Unified Command responders employ underflow dams, boom and skimming techniques to remove oil and waste from an unnamed tributary that leads to the Codorus Creek, March 3, 2026. York Salvage Yard Fire Unified Command responders remove oil-covered waste from an unnamed tributary that leads to the Codorus Creek, March 3, 2026, as part of the clean-up effort in response to a building fire and associated oil spill that occurred at J&K Salvage in York, Pa., on February 25. York Salvage Yard Fire Unified Command responders remove oil-covered waste from an unnamed tributary that leads to the Codorus Creek, March 3, 2026, as part of the clean-up effort in response to a building fire and associated oil spill that occurred at J&K Salvage in York, Pa., on February 25. A York Salvage Yard Fire Unified Command responder from Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) collects water samples from the unnamed tributary upstream from the location of the salvage yard fire February 27, 2026. This data will help define water quality assessments and helps define the extent of impacts from the incident. York Salvage Yard Fire Response photo. A York Salvage Yard Fire Unified Command responder conducts walking assessments of the Codorus Creek, March 2, 2026, as part of Shoreline Cleanup and Assessment Technique (SCAT) operations. On-foot SCAT surveys supplementing field map assessments by drones continue during the response to verify shoreline oiling, cleanup effectiveness, and to conduct evaluations of shorelines to ensure they meet cleanup endpoints. York Salvage Yard Fire Unified Command responder Robert Buzzard, Jr., a volunteer drone pilot with Pennsylvania Canine Search and Rescue, provides Shoreline Cleanup and Assessment Technique (SCAT) overflights of the Codorus Creek, March 2, 2026. SCAT is a systematic method for surveying an affected shoreline after an oil spill. As a regular part of the oil spill response, SCAT surveys begin early in the response to assess initial shoreline conditions, and are used to inform operational cleanup including boom deployment and skimming operations. Surveys continue during the response to verify shoreline oiling, cleanup effectiveness, and eventually, to conduct final evaluations of shorelines to ensure they meet cleanup endpoints. York Salvage Yard Fire Unified Command responder Robert Buzzard, Jr., a volunteer drone pilot with Pennsylvania Canine Search and Rescue, provides Shoreline Cleanup and Assessment Technique (SCAT) overflights of the Codorus Creek, March 2, 2026, where cleanup efforts are ongoing. York Salvage Yard Fire Unified Command responders from Lewis Environmental, an oil spill removal contractor, launch boats to place boom on the Codorus Creek, March 4, 2026, as part of the clean-up effort in response to a building fire and associated oil spill that occurred at J&K Salvage in York, Pa., on February 25. A boom specifically designed for pollution response is a floating, physical barrier, placed on the water to contain, divert, deflect, or exclude oil. Proper deployment involves use of mooring systems (e.g., anchors, land lines) and skilled teams and must be consistently monitored. Booms can be used in coordination with skimmers or other response actions to remove oil from the environment. York Salvage Yard Fire Unified Command responders from Lewis Environmental, an oil spill removal contractor, launch boats to place boom on the Codorus Creek, March 4, 2026, as part of the clean-up effort in response to a building fire and associated oil spill that occurred at J&K Salvage in York, Pa., on February 25. York Salvage Yard Fire Unified Command responders from Lewis Environmental, an oil spill removal contractor, launch boats to place boom on the Codorus Creek, March 4, 2026, as part of the clean-up effort in response to a building fire and associated oil spill that occurred at J&K Salvage in York, Pa., on February 25. York Salvage Yard Fire Unified Command responders set and replace boom along the tributary at the salvage yard near the Codorus Creek in York, Pa., March 6, 2026, after significant overnight rainfall. To date, over 2000 gallons of oily water mixture have been removed from the site with operations ongoing. York Salvage Yard Fire Unified Command responders set and replace boom near the confluence of the Codorus Creek and an unnamed tributary in York, Pa., March 6, 2026, after significant overnight rainfall. To date, over 2000 gallons of oily water mixture have been removed from the salvage yard incident site with operations ongoing. York Salvage Yard Fire Unified Command responders set and replace boom in the Codorus Creek in York, Pa., March 6, 2026, after significant overnight rainfall. To date, over 2000 gallons of oily water mixture have been removed from the salvage yard incident site with operations ongoing. York Salvage Yard Fire Unified Command responders assess drums of unknown product or materials using a combination of sampling and air monitoring to identify and categorize any hazards, March 8, 2026, at a salvage yard in York , Pa. York Salvage Yard Fire Unified Command responders test samples collected at the incident site to categorize any hazards within drums of unknown product or material in York , Pa., March 8, 2026. York Salvage Yard Fire Unified Command responders test samples collected at the incident site to categorize any hazards within drums of unknown product or material in York , Pa., March 8, 2026. York Salvage Yard Fire Unified Command responders undergo medical monitoring before donning chemical protective suits to assess drums of unknown product or materials using a combination of sampling and air monitoring to identify and categorize any hazards, March 8, 2026, at a salvage yard in York , Pa. York Salvage Yard Fire Unified Command responders assess drums of unknown product or materials using a combination of sampling and air monitoring to identify and categorize any hazards, March 8, 2026, at a salvage yard in York , Pa. York Salvage Yard Fire Unified Command responders assess drums of unknown product or materials using a combination of sampling and air monitoring to identify and categorize any hazards, March 8, 2026, at a salvage yard in York , Pa. York Salvage Yard Fire Unified Command responders assess drums of unknown product or materials using a combination of sampling and air monitoring to identify and categorize any hazards, March 8, 2026, at a salvage yard in York , Pa. York Salvage Yard Fire Unified Command responders assess drums of unknown product or material using a combination of sampling and air monitoring to identify and categorize any hazards, March 8, 2026, at a salvage yard in York , Pa. York Salvage Yard Fire Unified Command responders put on HAZMAT chemical protective suits and a self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) before entering the incident area to assess drums of unknown product or material using a combination of sampling and air monitoring to identify and categorize any hazards, March 8, 2026, at a salvage yard in York , Pa. York Salvage Yard Fire Unified Command responders go through a decontamination line after collecting samples and conducting air monitoring to identify and categorize any hazards within drums of unknown product or material at a salvage yard in York , Pa., March 8, 2026. York Salvage Yard Fire Unified Command responders go through a decontamination line after collecting samples and conducting air monitoring to identify and categorize any hazards within drums of unknown product or material at a salvage yard in York , Pa., March 8, 2026. A York Salvage Yard Fire Unified Command responder conducts air monitoring to assess drums of unknown product or material to identify and categorize any hazards, March 8, 2026, at a salvage yard in York , Pa.
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