Bernalillo County unsure what burned at metal recycling facility

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): A metal recycling facility in Albuquerque’s south valley is back to business after a large fire burned on the property over the weekend.

Bernalillo County fire officials have not finished their investigation. They did not know how the fire started or what material burned.

But people living near the lot could smell something distinct in the smoke and knew something wasn’t right.

John O’Neil lives near the plant. His whole house smelled like rubber over the weekend.

The New Mexico Department of Health said without knowing what material was burning, they cannot say if any hazardous gases were released into the air.

Bernalillo County tried to warn people in the area of a funny-smelling smoke after the fire started.

The emergency message told people to close their doors and windows and turn off any swamp coolers.

“It definitely was there when we got home,” O’Neil said.

His family was gone over the weekend and returned late Sunday. His wife arrived first.

“When she got home, she had to open up the windows and blast the swamp cooler because it was real musty,” O’Neil said.

Fire investigators will try to figure out what burned and what caused the smell.

It’s the second fire at Albuquerque Metal in three years. The first happened in July 2011.

Courtesy: www.koat.com