Local News

Crews battle flames and thick smoke at South El Monte recycling plant fire

By Julie Sharp, Dean Fioresi

Updated on: January 28, 2026 / 5:39 PM PST / CBS LA

South El Monte residents urged to shelter in place due to large fire burning at recycling facility

Thick black smoke billows from a South El Monte recycling plant as Los Angeles County Fire Department crews are attempting to control the flames consuming the large building complex.

Aerial footage shows barrels and bins stacked around the complex in the 2200 block of N. Tyler Avenue as multiple fire hoses stream water onto the blaze, a 3rd alarm fire.

Sparks flying from a small explosion as firefighters battle a blaze at P&T Metals recycling facility on Jan. 28, 2026. CBS LA

Google Maps lists the business as P&T Metals recycling center.

With SkyCal overhead as firefighters worked to contain the blaze, multiple small explosions were seen, which sent sparks flying dozens of feet into the air. Several of the large buildings at the recycling facility appeared to be impacted by the fire and a series of explosions.

South El Monte city leaders urged residents and people in the surrounding area to shelter in place as the fire continued to burn. The impacted areas included residential zones ELM-032 and SEM-E004. They urged residents to go indoors immediately and remain inside with closed windows and doors.

The area where South El Monte residents were urged to shelter in place as a large fire burned on Jan. 28, 2026. City of South El Monte/X

Southern California Edison said 575 customers were without power due to the fire. They said that they shut the power off as a precaution and there was no timetable as to when the service would be restored.

The cause of the fire is pending investigation from Los Angeles County firefighters.

This is a developing story. Check back for details.

Firefighters battling the massive flames on Jan. 28, 2026. CBS LA

Julie Sharp

Julie Sharp is a digital producer at CBS Los Angeles. She is a South Bay native and majored in print journalism at Cal State University Long Beach. Julie previously reported for the Beach Reporter, contributed to the Palos Verdes Pulse and worked as a video journalist for CBS News before joining the CBS News Los Angeles website team.