Closed recycling facility catches fire in California

Fire at former Pacific Coast Recycling in Dos Palos reportedly involves 150 tons of material.

An Oct. 13, 2015, fire at the site of a former Pacific Coast Recycling facility in Dos Palos, California, reportedly produced flames and smoke visible throughout the central California town. Dos Palos, in Merced County, California, is about 50 miles northwest of Fresno.

An online article by the Fresno Bee says the fire burned for more than four hours the evening of Oct. 13 and resulted in fire fighters issuing a warning to nearby residents to remain indoors overnight.

A police chief quoted by the Bee says the fire as believed to be accidental, possibly caused by sparks produced by heavy machinery that ignited nearby cardboard.

Fire fighters estimate that some 150 tons of recyclable materials, “including large amounts of plastic, rubber, wood and cardboard,” burned in the incident, according to the Bee.

The news article indicates the Pacific Coast Recycling facility has been closed for more than two months and the crews working there were engaged in the process of moving out. Pacific Coast Recycling also has a facility in Gilroy, California.