San Diego

Car Crusher Causes Fire, Black Plume Above El Cajon Recycling Center

A fire burning in El Cajon produced a large column of thick black smoke in the skies of the East County on Wednesday.

The fire was burning at 1:45 p.m. at a recycling facility located at 1425 N Magnolia Avenue.

The San Diego County Sheriff's Department (SDSO) said the blaze sparked after a car bailer, a large piece of machinery that crushes cars, caught fire and spread to other scrap metal and debris in the yard to go up in flames.

El Cajon police officers were providing traffic control near the fire scene.

After approximately 30 minutes, fire crews had the bulk of the fire under control and were working to extinguish hot spots.

No injuries or structural damage was reported.

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