Large fire engulfs scrap metal facility in L.A. County

A large commercial building fire has escalated into a third alarm in Los Angeles County, with flames consuming much of a scrap metal facility and sending a heavy plume of smoke into the air, according to fire officials.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department said crews arrived around 2:31 p.m. Wednesday at a commercial building on the 2200 block of North Tyler Avenue in South El Monte. Incident commanders later upgraded the response from a second to a third alarm as firefighters worked to control the blaze.

The fire reportedly involves P&T Metals, a family-owned industrial scrap metal recycling company, according to business information and location records. P&T Metals handles a wide range of industrial metals and operates a commercial processing facility at the site.

Video from the scene showed intense flames overtaking most of the structure, with thick black smoke rising high above the area and visible from surrounding communities.

Authorities have not reported any injuries, and it remains unclear whether hazardous materials at the site could pose additional risks. No shelter-in-place orders have been issued.

South El Monte is located in eastern Los Angeles County, about 12 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, near the San Gabriel Valley. The cause of the fire has not been released.