SOUTH EL MONTE (CNS) – Firefighters were using heavy equipment Thursday to comb through material at a metal recycling yard after a 15-hour-plus battle with a third-alarm fire at the South El Monte location.
The fire, which sent up thick plumes of smoke visible for miles — was reported at about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at P&T Metals in the 2200 block of North Tyler Avenue, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
There were multiple explosions during the fire, but fire department Public Information Officer Keith Navarre said he couldn’t confirm reports that a number of propane tanks blew up or that the blaze had been classified a titanium fire.
There were multiple types of metal at the location, he said, but no injuries to civilians or firefighters and all searches for potential victims have been concluded.
The fire department’s Health HazMat unit responded, as did Urban Search and Rescue teams, Navarre said.
A shelter in place order implemented after the fire, due to potentially toxic smoke, was lifted just after 10 p.m. Wednesday, after continuous monitoring returned negative results or dangerous contaminants, he said.
“They will be continuing to overhaul the building,” Navarre said of Thursday’s operations at the yard. He said there may be some lingering smoke in the immediate area.
According to the company’s website, P&T Metals is an industrial scrap metal recycling company, collecting materials such as aluminum, copper, brass, iron, steel, titanium, exotic and precious metals and high-temperature alloys.
The company has been in business for nearly 60 years, with its South El Monte facility covering four acres.
The cause of the fire was under investigation, but arson is not suspected, Navarre said.
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