Roughly 80 firefighters fought and contained a fire that broke out Friday afternoon at a food recycling center in Pomona.
Inspector Sky Cornell with the Los Angeles County Fire Department said the fire started at around 3:30 p.m. The department got a call about a fire that had broken out just outside the center, Cornell said.
“The fire started on the outside of the building and spread to the interior of the recycling center,” Cornell said. “Initially there was a threat to surrounding buildings, but we maintained the fire to the building of origin and everything was kept in control. The building looks fine from the outside right now.”
Los Angeles County Fire Department firefighters battle a junkyard fire at 1980 S. Reservoir St. in Pomona on Friday, May 3, 2019. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Los Angeles County Fire Department firefighters battle a junkyard fire at 1980 S. Reservoir St. in Pomona on Friday, May 3, 2019. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
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Los Angeles County Fire Department firefighters battle a junkyard fire at 1980 S. Reservoir St. in Pomona on Friday, May 3, 2019. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Los Angeles County Fire Department firefighters battle a junkyard fire at 1980 S. Reservoir St. in Pomona on Friday, May 3, 2019. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Los Angeles County Fire Department firefighter Kimberlee Ledesma controls the water that is being hosed to extinguish the fire at a recycling yard at 1980 S. Reservoir St. in Pomona on Friday, May 3, 2019. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Los Angeles County Fire Department firefighters battle a junkyard fire at 1980 S. Reservoir St. in Pomona on Friday, May 3, 2019. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Los Angeles County Fire Department firefighters battle a junkyard fire at 1980 S. Reservoir St. in Pomona on Friday, May 3, 2019. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
A Los Angeles County Fire Department firefighter on a ladder sprays water to put out the fire at recycling yard at 1980 S. Reservoir St. in Pomona on Friday, May 3, 2019. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Los Angeles County Fire Department firefighters battle a junkyard fire at 1980 S. Reservoir St. in Pomona on Friday, May 3, 2019. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Los Angeles County Fire Department firefighters battle a junkyard fire at 1980 S. Reservoir St. in Pomona on Friday, May 3, 2019. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
— Watchara Phomicinda (@watcharaphotog) May 3, 2019
Police shut down Reservoir Street in both directions from Lexington Avenue to Philadelphia Street. Department officials said they expected that the Los Angeles County Fire Department should have the fire contained before 6 p.m.
Fire crews contained the fire by 6 p.m., and had it almost entirely extinguished at around 7 p.m.
“The fire is completely out,” Cornell said. “We just brought in a dozer to make sure it stays out. Right now there are a few areas that are smoldering and producing some smoke.”
Police officials said the fire may have been started by at least one person. Cornell said the fire department is investigating the cause of the fire.
