Firefighters Extinguish San Jose Landfill Blaze
SAN JOSE (CBS SF) -- Firefighters extinguished a large trash fire at the Zanker Road Landfill Saturday night, a San Jose Fire captain said.
A San Jose fire official initially said the fire burned at the BFI Newby Island landfill in Milpitas, but fire Capt. Mary Gutierrez said Monday it actually occurred at the Zanker Road Landfill.
The fire was reported around 8:30 p.m. Saturday and was initially called as a 2-alarm fire since it was unclear what was burning. Once crews determined only garbage was involved, the second alarm was cancelled, said Capt. Mike Van Elgort.
About 25 firefighters battled the roughly 200-square-foot trash fire, containing the flames in about 90 minutes, the captain said.
Though the fire sent billowing black smoke into the air, it did not threaten any structures, and no injuries were reported.
"Thankfully, we did not have a strong breeze so we were able to put out the fire out before the plume (of smoke) could go anywhere," he said.
Fire officials advised any residents living downwind of the still-smoldering blaze to go inside their homes and shut any doors and windows.
"Any of that stuff burning is probably not great to inhale," the fire captain noted.
The cause of the blaze is under investigation.
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