Explosion at Holbrook scrapyard injures 2

The Suffolk police arson squad is investigating a scrapyard explosion in Holbrook that sparked a fire Tuesday morning and left two employees with minor injuries.

Employees at Arrow Metal and E-Waste Recycling at 1120 Lincoln Ave. were working in the scrapyard at 7:30 a.m. when a tank containing an unknown gas was damaged, causing the explosion and a subsequent fire, according to the Suffolk County Police Department.

Police and fire officials said two employees suffered minor injuries, with one transported to a hospital for evaluation.

Officials were working to determine what type of gas was in the canister that exploded — and what ignited it.

Holbrook Fire Department Second Assistant Chief Charles Apostol said his department responded to the scene following the 911 report of the incident at 7:30 a.m. and found "a small metal debris fire" at the rear of the scrapyard.

He said about 25 firefighters and EMS ambulance crew members responded — and said the fire was under control within 30 minutes.

Apostol said the two injured workers complained of "ringing in their ears" and one refused transport to the hospital.

Additional details were not immediately available.

Newsday's Nicholas Grasso contributed to this story.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a Newsday reporter since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press, Society of the Silurians and National Headliner Awards for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing. He is the author of “Swee'pea,” about New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. His debut crime novel, “For Nothing Is Hidden,” rooted in 1950s Long Island, was released in October 2025.