01.22.2025 | 9:07 PM | IRVINE – A fire broke out inside a recycling center blanketing nearby communities with thick smoke, Wednesday night.
The fire was reported in the sorting center of Waste Management, located in the 16100 block of Construction Circle East, around 9:07 PM.
When authorities arrived they found heavy fire showing from inside the sorting center and initiated an aggressive fire attack to douse the blaze before it could spread.
Within 45 minutes the bulk of the flames were extinguished though crews remained on scene for hours ensuring that the flames were extinguished and would not reignite.
Smoke from the blaze blanketed nearby neighborhoods prompting numerous calls to 911 as well as reports of additional fires that were determined to be unfounded.
Police and fire officials took to social media to request that residents refrain from calling 911 due to the smoke and to remain inside while crews battled the blaze.
No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is under investigation.
There has been a history of fires at the same recycling center possibly caused by flammable items being improperly disposed of in recycling bins which feed the center.