Sacramento firefighters battling four-alarm fire at recycling facility on Florin Perkins Road

Firefighters on Thursday evening were battling a recycling facility fire, producing a thick column of black smoke over an industrial business area in southeastern Sacramento that could be seen for miles.

The four-alarm fire was first reported to the Sacramento Fire Department shortly before 5 p.m. at the business north of the intersection of Fruitridge and Florin Perkins roads. Crews with several fire engines and fire trucks were at the scene.

The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District was assisting the city’s Fire Department in tackling Thursday’s fire. A Metro Fire helicopter providing aerial reconnaissance captured video of the blaze that showed heavy flames and thick black smoke pouring out of one building.

The fire was burning at the Green Evolution Recycling facility at 4800 Florin Perkins Road, just north of 24th Avenue, in the city’s Power Ridge neighborhood. Cosumnes Fire Department also assisted in battling the blaze.

Firefighters wait as water is sprayed on a fire from ladder trucks at Green Evolution Recycling center at 24th Avenue and Florin Perkins Road in south Sacramento on Thursday, July 25, 2024.
Firefighters wait as water is sprayed on a fire from ladder trucks at Green Evolution Recycling center at 24th Avenue and Florin Perkins Road in south Sacramento on Thursday, July 25, 2024.

Capt. Justin Sylvia, a spokesman for the Sacramento Fire Department, said the fire was still burning at 7 p.m. Thursday and firefighters had yet to get the blaze under control. He said the fire was burning hundreds if not thousands of cardboard bails at the recycling facility.

Sylvia said it would likely take a few hours to ensure any smoldering spots have been extinguished once they get the flames under control. He said firefighters were working to keep the flames from spreading north across a nearby railroad line. No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire had not been determined.