Fire at Recycling Center May 25, 2020

Crews Contain Fire at South Bay Recycling Facility

Will leave story here for a few more hours, but not updating any longer. Story was updated continuously during the episode, by Ann Zeise, GoMilpitas.com

Crews are battling a fire that broke out around 1 p.m, May 25, 2020, in Milpitas. The Fire Department is on the scene at the 1600 block of Dixon Landing Rd at the Republic Services Newby Island Landfill. The cause of the fire is still unknown.

Listening to emergency crew from San Jose, Milpitas and Fremont.

Pressure on fire hydrant just went out for two trucks. Underground water main appears broken. Closest plug is about 2000′ up in Fremont. Water company has been called. Fremont Blvd. will be closed to accommodate fire hoses. Fire could take off again until water can once again be supplied.

Water tenders have arrived, and keeping fire from moving north into Fremont. Truck 29 moving in closer. Milpitas Fire 87 and 88 are both on the scene. Division Alpha pumping. Drafting water out of local ponds as well. See map. Water is NOT a city issue. Water main failure was with the Newbie Island water system.

[Possible Covid-19 emergency also being reported for other emergency crews to resolve.]

Knocking down burning debris with a front loader. Rotating crews into cooling station in a nearby barn. 125 psi only, too low pressure for effective fire fighting. Distance water has to go is a problem.

Starting to make real progress now (3:15). Plans being made for reinforcement, mop up. Fremont Engine 61 released to go home. Engine 23 released. Engine 21 with water tender awhile longer. Milpitas Engine 86 released. Truck 86 released, too.

Fire pushing to the west. Checking on extension. Firefighters said large compressed bales of trash — mostly paper products — caught fire at the facility. An official cause of the fire is under investigation.

One pile flaring up. Stick may be able to reach it. Flaring up near cyclone fence. Traffic on Fremont Blvd still be stopped. Go another way! 880 is not being shutdown.

At this point ensuring all hotspots are out. San Jose has 4 engines and trucks. Milpitas still also has one engine on scene. Fremont 16 only one left at scene from Fremont. Plan is to shut down in 5 minutes, by 4:05 PM. Engine 25 and 29 shutting down. Working on cutting down hydrant up in Fremont, and reclaiming the firehose. When down, Fremont Blvd will open up again.