South Valley Recycling Fire Impacts Air

Bernalillo County Fire Rescue said a fire broke out around 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 23, at a recycling plant in Albuquerque’s South Valley, sending a large plume of smoke over the area and prompting road closures near Broadway and Prosperity. William Harris, a public information officer for Bernalillo County Fire Rescue, told local media the fire started in the paper section of the plant and later spread into aluminum and other recycled materials. Officials said 50 firefighters and 19 units from Bernalillo County Fire Rescue and Albuquerque Fire Rescue were sent to the scene. No injuries to firefighters or workers had been reported late Saturday, and the cause remained under investigation. ### Where was the fire and what did crews say was burning? Broadway Boulevard just south of Rio Bravo Boulevard was closed in both directions as crews worked at the recycling plant, according to Bernalillo County Fire Rescue and the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office as reported by local outlets. Harris said the fire began in the paper section of the facility before moving into aluminum and other recycled materials. Officials said the blaze was surrounded and was not expected to spread beyond the scene, though they also warned it would take an extended time to extinguish. (krqe.com) ### Why did smoke from the fire trigger a health alert? The Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Air Quality Program issued a health alert because of the smoke, KOAT reported, and the alert took effect at 9:35 p.m. Saturday and was set to remain in place until 9 a.m. Sunday. Harris said smoke was then blowing away from nearby homes, but officials warned that people in the path of the smoke should shelter in place, close windows and shut off HVAC or air-conditioning systems if alerts were issued. (krqe.com) KOAT reported that officials said black smoke and other smoke from the fire could be harmful, and that people with respiratory issues should limit outdoor activity. ### What are the main air-quality concerns for nearby residents? Smoke from industrial and recycling fires can raise short-term concerns because fine particles and combustion byproducts can aggravate asthma and other breathing problems, according to public air-quality guidance used by local and federal agencies. The Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Air Quality Program says it measures criteria pollutants every day and administers air-quality protections for Albuquerque and Bernalillo County. (koat.com) AirNow, the federal air-quality platform, says its current maps show conditions based on ozone or particulate matter, whichever is higher, and directs users to its fire and smoke tools for localized smoke impacts. ### What were residents told to do Saturday night? People living near the South Valley fire were told to avoid the area, remain alert for emergency notifications and follow shelter-in-place instructions if smoke moved toward them. KOAT reported that officials advised residents to close windows, turn off HVAC systems and try to leave the area if conditions worsened. The same report said people with respiratory issues should reduce outdoor activity while the health alert remained in effect. (cabq.gov) ### Where can residents check conditions after the fire? The City of Albuquerque’s Environmental Health Department says the Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Air Quality Program publishes a daily air quality update every weekday morning around 8 a.m. on its website. The city’s air-quality page says the program is responsible for monitoring and enforcing air-quality rules within Albuquerque and Bernalillo County. AirNow also provides current air-quality readings and a fire-and-smoke map that residents can use to check whether particulate pollution is affecting their area. (krqe.com) Sunday morning is the next stated deadline in the smoke alert issued for the South Valley fire, based on KOAT’s report that the alert was set to run until 9 a.m. on May 24. After that, residents can look for updated guidance from the Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Air Quality Program and any new notices from Bernalillo County Fire Rescue as crews continue work at the site and investigators examine the cause. (koat.com) (cabq.gov)