Lots of aerial action.
Santa Clara: Smoky recycling plant fire prompts 'shelter in place' order
Billowing
smoke is rising from a recycling plant in Santa Clara, and nearby
residents are being asked to stay inside and close their windows while
firefighters put out the blaze.
The four-alarm fire was reported
at ECS Refining at 735 Reed St. in Santa Clara about 12:30 p.m. and
black smoke could be seen from the surrounding freeways. Though the
fire is near the Mineta San Jose International Airport, a spokesman
said the fire wasn't affecting flights.The fire is at ECS Refining in
Santa Clara, a facility that stores, recycles and disposes of hazardous
waste.
ECS Refining specializes in recycling of electronics
scrap, such as circuit boards, computers, circuits and televisions. It
also treats waste from photographic industries.
Santa Clara
deputy city manager Carol McCarthy said the county alert system
notified people in a rectangular area of Reed, Grant and Lafayette
Streets and El Camino Real to shelter in place because of the smoke and
plastics at the plant. Santa Clara Fire has called for mutual aid from
various cities for help.
"We're all inside, with windows and
doors closed. It smells like burning plastic," said Ken Clark of
Motorspeed West on Grant Street, an auto repair shop.
"It's right
across the street from us," he said. "They store electronics and TV
monitors, all stacked all up on pallets, wrapped with Saran wrap. The
whole lot is full of them."
"It is their third fire," he said. "They were supposed to be moving before they had another fire."