A fire erupted at Town Recycling in Albuquerque on Tuesday, sending thick, black smoke into the air and prompting an air quality alert. The alert was issued by Albuquerque Air Quality due to concerns about potential toxins in the smoke, which included various papers and metals.

Community Concerns

William Harris of Bernalillo County Fire and Rescue emphasized the potential health risks, particularly for residents with respiratory issues, the elderly, and those unable to maintain their airways. The smoke was reported to be heading west and settling in the South Valley, raising concerns for local residents.

“We were worried about people with breathing problems,” Harris stated. “We wanted to get the alert out as soon as possible to ensure community safety.”

Firefighting Efforts

Forty firefighters were deployed to battle the blaze, which involved unknown materials. Harris noted the uncertainty of the situation, saying, “We just know it was a recycling thing, and we didn’t want to breathe it.”

Fortunately, no residents reported health issues related to the fire, and the air quality alert was lifted on Wednesday. Harris reassured the community, “We want the community to be safe no matter what, whether that’s a mile from the fire, next to the fire, or ten miles from the fire. But there’s no threat now.”

Original reporting: KOAT Albuquerque — read the source article.