Fire crews in the North Bay were keeping a close eye on a metal recycling plant that burned to the ground Friday morning.
The fire broke out at the Alco Metal and Iron Warehouse on Mare Island in Vallejo. Firefighters said the heavy winds threw embers as far as a quarter-mile away .
Vallejo Fire Battalion Chief said smoke from the fire is more toxic than usual but he expects heavy winds to keep the smoke out.
The Vallejo Fire Department is asking the community to avoid the area. California Highway Patrol has closed down Highway 37 in both directions due to heavy smoke in the area.
The 62,500 square foot warehouse is filled with e-waste, metals, used oil, propane tanks and other items that ignited the building quickly, Vallejo Battalion Chief Cliff Campbell said.
The fire also spread to nearby vegetation which sparked 20 spotfires, according to the Vallejo Fire Department. Cal Fire sent a truck to help and Travis Air Force sent an air truck to refill the firefighters' air canisters, Campbell said.
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Fire officials said the building was burning and the roof was collapsing when they arrived on scene. Campbell said all employees were evacuated and accounted for on Thursday night.
No one was injured from the fire, as of Friday morning. While the majority of the flames were put out, Campbell said the fire could smolder and burn for a few days.
Firefighters first reported the blaze at 11:43 p.m. Thursday. Alco plant security guards were the first to call in the fire, Campbell said.
Almost a year ago, a similar 3-alarm fire broke out at Alco Warehouse triggering a shelter-in-place.
Bay City News contributed to this story.
