2 Recycling Plant Fires = Largest Ever In El Paso

2 recycling plants on East Paisano Drive in El Paso went up in flames at the same time, becoming one of the largest fires ever in El Paso.

The plants, located across from each other at 1611 and 1710 East Paisano Drive, burned for over 20 hours. 43 units from the El Paso Fire Department and over 200 firefighters were needed to finally get it under control.

Paisano, between Coles and Piedras, had all lanes completely shut down. Thankfully, at the time of this writing, no injuries had been reported.

No cause for the fire has been determined and EPFD isn't sure yet which one started first.

At around 9 p.m. on Tuesday, fire crews reported the fire on the south side had been contained while the one on the north side continued to burn.

EPFD is unsure which fire started first, or if embers from one started the other, but they are dubbing the fire as one of the largest in El Paso's history. - KFOX

Enrique Dueñas, spokesman for EPPD, said ...

... the department will establish a fire watch, meaning fire crews will stay at the scene for 24 hours to make sure the fire doesn't rekindle. - KFOX

Neighbors have expressed concern about having the plants in their area as, within the last 6 years, there have been at least 3 other fires there.

Heat, wind and dryness are big factors in these plant fires according to Dueñas. He told KFOX that there is usually at least 1 recycling plant fire in El Paso every summer.