Albuquerque plastic storage plant fire sends huge plume of black smoke into the sky – as firefighters warn ‘hazardous materials’ could burn for DAYS
- Thick black smoke could be seen rising from the site, moving with the strong wind. Officials warned that the smoke may contain dangerous air pollutants
- Lieutenant Jason Fejer of Albuquerque Fire Rescue said fires caused by plastic can be ‘very hard to put out’
An out-of-control fire has raged through a plastic storage plant in Albuquerque, sending huge plumes of toxic black smoke into the air.
The blaze started as a small outdoor blaze at 5301 Hawking Drive in Mesa Del Sol — but it quickly became a multi-alarm, multi-jurisdictional inferno on Sunday afternoon.
Officials noted at a press conference that the fire could burn for “potentially days.”
Thick black smoke could be seen rising from the site, moving with the strong wind. Officials warned that the residue and smoke may contain dangerous air pollutants.
Residents have been told to stay inside with their windows closed.
At least two hectares of land were on fire by mid-afternoon, but that is expected to have increased overnight.
There were no injuries or deaths, but the fire continues to burn
The blaze started as a small blaze outside but quickly spread and became a multi-alarm, multi-jurisdictional inferno on Sunday afternoon
Albuquerque Fire wrote on social media, “AFR and Bernalillo County are working on a multi-alarm, multi-jurisdictional fire. Structures, products and vehicles are involved.
“Fire is out of control. Stay away from Bobby Foster and South University.”
CABQ Environmental Health said: ‘The fire is in a facility where plastics are stored.
Please avoid the area. For respiratory health, stay indoors and keep windows and doors closed. If necessary for comfort, use air conditioners in recycle/recirculation mode.’
No injuries or deaths have been reported.
Lieutenant Jason Fejer of Albuquerque Fire Rescue said fires caused by plastic can be “very hard to put out.”
Officials noted at a press conference that the fire could burn for “possibly days.”
Thick black smoke could be seen rising from the site, moving with the strong wind
Lieutenant Jason Fejer (left) of Albuquerque Fire Rescue said fires caused by plastic can be “very hard to put out.” Lieutenant Robert Arguelles is pictured at right
The officials explained that water does not extinguish these types of fires quickly or easily – because the plastics burn at such high temperatures.
Emergency services are trying to extinguish the flames
He said they have not prepared any immediate evacuation zones, but reiterated that people should stay indoors and turn off air conditioning.
The officials explained that water does not extinguish these types of fires quickly or easily because the plastic burns at such high temperatures.
“It takes a lot of water and a lot of time to put this out,” Fejer said.