Firefighters battle blaze at North Las Vegas recycling center

By Kailyn Brown

Published Tuesday, June 16, 2015 | 12:55 p.m.

Updated Tuesday, June 16, 2015 | 4:49 p.m.

The North Las Vegas Fire Department was battling a large blaze at a recycle center on Commerce Street that created a column of thick, black smoke visible across the valley.

The fire was reported about noon at Las Vegas Recycling, 2220 N. Commerce St., near Losee Road, North Las Vegas Fire Department Capt. Cedric Williams said.

No injuries have been reported, he said.

The fire appears to have started where the recyclables are located and spread to the center’s business office, but investigators haven’t been able to determine exactly where it originated, he said. The building sustained significant damage and could be a complete loss, he said.

Las Vegas Fire & Rescue tweeted about 12:30 p.m. that it was sending 19 units to help put out the fire. Clark County Fire Department units also were assisting, Williams said.

As of 3:15 p.m., the fire was about 85 to 90 percent contained, but it’s likely firefighters will remain on scene “for quite a while,” Williams said.

The heat and amount of recyclables were making fighting the fire difficult, Williams said.

The fire also temporarily forced the closure of a few nearby streets. Carey Avenue was shut down between Commerce and Losee. Commerce was shut down between Losee and Miller Avenue.

“The fire got so bad that we had to shut down for four hours,” said Henry Harvey, general manager at Fast Towing, located at 2201 N. Commerce Street, near the intersection of Commerce and Miller. “We couldn’t release cars because the streets were shut down."

Last month, a fire broke out at another recycling plant in the 1600 block of Stocker Street near West Owens Avenue in North Las Vegas.

Williams said that the department thoroughly investigates all fires and that he doesn’t believe the incidents are related.