Fire tears through recycling facility in Commerce, sending plumes of smoke into air
Flames ripped through a recycling plant Friday afternoon in Commerce, sending towers of smoke into the air.
The blaze erupted about 2:10 p.m. in the 5000 block of East 61st Street near Eastern Avenue, just off the 5 Freeway, said Inspector Joey Marron, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
Firefighters arrived to find smoke billowing from the facility and flames burning through compacted cardboard, he said.
About 100 firefighters were tackling the blaze as it consumed recycling materials.
Recycling fires are labor-intensive because of the amount and types of materials, Marron said.
But firefighters have surrounded the blaze, he said.
Crews will spray foam on the cardboard to help break up the dense material. Bulldozers will also be used to push materials around and help smother the flames, Marron said.
Smoke, he said, will probably linger for a couple of hours.
For breaking news in California, follow @VeronicaRochaLA on Twitter.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
