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.
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 with a forklift, 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…