Crews continue to extinguish hot spots at El Monte recycling plant fire

Thick black smoke billowed from a South El Monte recycling plant as Los Angeles County Fire Department crews attempted to control the flames consuming the large building complex on Wednesday afternoon.

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

Google Maps lists the business as P&T Metals recycling center. Employees who work at the building, which has a large amount of flammable materials, include welders and forklift operators. 

"The building on fire did have metals and other materials in there that are under investigation at this time," said LACoFD Public Information Officer Keith Navarre. He said that there were explosions, which could have been from the extremely hot metals inside. Crews were still working to confirm exactly what materials were inside.

Katia Gonzales, who works at the business, said that she saw a forklift run over something on the ground, which made sparks shoot onto a pile of material. Despite trying to put out the flames with a fire extinguisher, it quickly grew out of control. 

"Everyone started running," she said. "It was so quick. Everyone just running outside started screaming."

With SkyCal overhead as firefighters worked to contain the blaze on Wednesday, multiple small explosions were seen, sending 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.

LACoFD officials said that multiple propane tanks exploded as the fire raged and that some hazardous metals, like titanium, also burned. The South Coast Air Quality Management District deployed a team to test for toxic metals in the air. 

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 with HVAC systems turned off. 

Thick clouds of white smoke were still lingering in several neighborhoods at around 7 p.m., nearly five hours after the fire first erupted. Residents who had to leave their homes were seen wearing face coverings as they rushed to their cars. 

"As soon as you step outside, it smells really bad," said Theotis Richardson.

The shelter-in-place orders were lifted at around 10:30 p.m., Los Angeles County firefighters said. 

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.

"I am actively monitoring the commercial structural fire on Tyler Ave in South El Monte," said a statement, in part, from Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis. "A shelter-in-place order has been issued for the residential area immediately surrounding the fire and my office is actively coordinating with state officials and city officials to address the fire."

Day 2: Fire suppression 

For a second day, fire crews continue to douse the buildings that burned in Wednesday's massive blaze at the facility. There are smoldering hot metals inside, keeping crews at a distance as water streams from engines onto the fire-ravaged rubble.

It is estimated that fire crews will remain at the site, extinguishing hot spots for most of Thursday before investigators can enter to determine the origin of the blaze. No injuries have yet been reported.