Mississauga firefighters worked more than 16 hours to control a massive fire that broke out Wednesday afternoon in an industrial area just east of Cooksville.

Heavy black smoke could be seen from far away after the fire erupted around 4 p.m. at a battery recycling plant on Tonolli Rd. near Dixie Rd., between Dundas St. E. and The Queensway.

Platoon chief Stephane Malo said Mississauga Fire and Emergency Services had the fire under control by about 8:20 a.m. Thursday.

“To put it in context, we consider a fire under control when we’re satisfied we have the resources and so on needed to deal with this thing so we’re basically at a neutral point where it’s going our way versus the other way,” Malo added. “There will still be some fire and some smoke, but we’re satisfied that we have this under control.”

The Ontario Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of the fire. Malo said it could take a number of days, possibly weeks, for a cause to be determined. No injuries have been reported.

Malo said extra machinery will be brought in at some point Thursday to help clear debris from the area so crews can continue their investigation.

Several businesses in the area were evacuated as a precaution while residents in the area were advised to keep their windows shut.

Fifteen firetrucks were on scene, in addition to representatives from the Region of Peel and Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks to assess air quality.

“All parties are satisfied with what’s going on there as far as the environment is concerned and so on,” Malo said. “Now it’s a matter of clean up and fire cause determination.”

The fire caused massive delays for commuters heading home Wednesday night. The blaze was close to the Dixie GO Station and several trains along the Milton line were cancelled as trains were held at Dixie station. Metrolinx said service resumed Thursday morning around 6 a.m.

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With files from Marta Marychuk

Iain Colpitts is a reporter for Mississauga News and Brampton Guardian. Reach him via email: icolpitts@mississauga.net

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