Crews battle fire at Phoenix recycling plant; fire officials report magnesium explosions

Crews battle big scrapyard fire in Phoenix

The fire is burning in the area of 22nd Avenue and McDowell, and explosions involving chemicals can be heard at the scene.

PHOENIX - Phoenix Fire officials say crews were called out to a business near Downtown Phoenix to battle a 4-alarm fire on the morning of May 22.

The fire was burning at a recycling plant in the area of 22nd Avenue and McDowell Road. According to fire officials, crews were sent to the area following reports of smoke coming from a business.

It is not clear at this point how the fire started, but our crews at the scene heard explosion while they were interviewing a fire department spokesperson.

"Firefighters quickly secured water supplies and surrounded the business for an elevated master stream attack while simultaneously extinguishing spot fires in the area from exploding magnesium at the original fire occupancy," read a portion of the statement.

"Magnesium reacts with water at a very extremely high temperature, and then, it burns and explode," said Phoenix Fire Captain Todd Keller.=

HAZMAT crews are also on scene to evaluate. No injuries have been reported.

Fire official talks about fire at Phoenix scrapyard

The fire happened in the area of 22nd Avenue and McDowell Road, and fire officials say there magnesium explosions have caused spark fires in the area. FOX 10's Anita Roman and Steve Nielsen spoke with Cpt. Todd Keller.