PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — A newly released environmental report shows inspectors want to test whether any contaminants entered the Providence River after a massive fire earlier this month erupted at an embattled scrap metal yard.

R.I. Department of Environmental Management inspectors visited Rhode Island Recycled Metals on April 12 — hours after a large fire broke out and engulfed the city skyline with smoke overnight.

Inspectors said they wanted to see whether any oil, hazardous waste or other contaminated materials had run off into the Providence River as a result of the fire, and they talked with one employee, who told them “the facility only takes in scrap metal and tries its best to ensure no liquids are associated with the scrap.”

Recycled Metal officials have repeatedly said they suspect arson caused the fire. And during the inspection, the employee told state officials he was “constantly kicking off homeless people offsite and believes that one of them started the fire,” according to the report.

A Providence Fire Department spokesperson said Wednesday the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Inspectors took several photos of areas where they said oil sheening and staining were present. The report also showed burnt appliances and other debris where the fire started, which they noted as areas of concern.

“Surrounding these piles and throughout the property, I observed surrounding water ponding areas with oil sheening and several areas of oil staining on the ground surface,” inspectors wrote.

The state officials also noted two runoff streams “originating from the burnt piles” that flowed across the property and into the water, but they said they didn’t see any oil sheen entering the river.

In another area where inspectors said Recycled Metals once disassembled and maintained vehicles, they said there was also oil sheening showing.

DEM officials reviewed the report and sent a letter to the company 11 days later, requesting a soil-sampling plan.

“After careful review of the focused compliance inspection report, the department will require additional site soil sampling within the entire area of the fire and any areas affected by water runoff from the firefighting,” DEM officials wrote.

The state agency also highlighted that combustion or burning is “a common source for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons,” which comprise chemicals that occur naturally in coal, crude oil, and gasoline.

DEM officials said the soil samples would be analyzed at a lab.

“In addition, it is the department’s understanding the RIRM currently suspects arson to be the cause of the recent fire which would likely involve the use of an accelerant, in which case, soil samples shall also be laboratory analyzed,” they wrote.

Recycled Metals spokesperson Patrick Sweeney said the company is working with DEM to find an “amicable solution to the matter.” But he noted this letter revealed a change in tune from what state officials said immediately following the blaze.

“DEM did, however, already state that air quality and water run-off were not a concern after the fire,” Sweeney said in a statement to Target 12. “Further, DEM also noted the readings were typical for the location and time of day and pose no concern.”

Recycled Metals is already at odds with the state over a $25,000 environmental fine . It’s also trying to sort out nearly $160,000 in back taxes that Providence officials claim the scrapyard owes.

Providence also issued a cease and desist order against the scrap-metal yard last month, claiming the company was operating without a license. Company representatives have pushed back and have ignored the order, which has landed the dispute in court.

A judge recently tossed out a temporary restraining order city officials tried to obtain after the fire, which Recycled Metals lauded as a win for the company. Both parties are due to appear again before a judge in May.

On Wednesday, Providence Mayor Brett Smiley said they will continue to fight the issue in court and he called on DEM, saying additional enforcement and action were “necessary.”

“The Department of Environmental Management, through the state, has had environmental violations on this site going back years, and one of our frustrations is that the state has not taken more action,” Smiley said.

Alexandra Leslie ( aleslie@wpri.com ) is a Target 12 investigative reporter covering Providence and more for 12 News. Connect with her on Twitter and on Facebook .

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