Today’s fire was yet another example of why I have been advocating for eliminating these types of businesses in South Providence, and indeed the whole City. This area has the highest rates of childhood asthma in the state, and we are ninth in the nation, and it’s because of businesses like these.

The scrap yards along Allens Avenue are continually polluting our neighborhoods, and we were lucky that what occurred today was quickly contained. What would happen if it was an oil tanker? It would have been a disaster.

We are the Ocean State, and our waterways are our most precious natural resource. We need our businesses to do better, be safer, and transition to cleaner and safer practices.

I want to thank the men and women of the Providence Fire Department for acting so quickly to eliminate the fire and causing further damage to the area.

Pedro Espinal
Providence City Council
Councilman – Ward 10