100 firefighters battle Vegas recycling plant fire

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NORTH LAS VEGAS, Nev. (AP) — More than 100 firefighters battled a raging fire at a recycling plant in North Las Vegas for nearly two hours before they extinguished the blaze that sent up a black, plume of smoke visible for miles.

Crews were met with a 50-foot-high wall of flames fueled by winds gusting up to 30 mph when they arrived at the Republic Services plant shortly before 6 p.m. Monday.

The facility was evacuated but no one was hurt.

North Las Vegas fire officials say the fire ripped through bundles of cardboard and plastic in the storage yard then spread to the main building on Gowan Road near Commerce Street. Investigators have determined it was an accidental mechanical fire.

The smoke could be seen from as far away as Henderson.