A pre-dawn fire tore through a San Jose recycling center today, sending a column of thick black smoke over the surrounding industrial blocks and drawing a multi-unit response from firefighters. Broadcast and bystander video showed heavy flames ripping through piles of material as crews worked to knock the blaze down. Officials had not released a cause or any damage estimates at the time the footage was shared.
Video shows crews battling the blaze
Local TV footage captured firefighters hosing down visible flames near stacks of sorted recyclables while smoke drifted for blocks, according to KTVU. The station posted the video this morning, and the clip remains the main public look at the first phase of the response.
Batteries and other hazards make recycling fires worse
Just this month, the City of San José published a list of items residents should never toss into curbside recycling carts, including batteries and e-waste, because they can spark fires while material is being collected or sorted, according to the City of San José. Federal guidance from the EPA also warns that lithium-ion batteries can ignite if they are damaged in the trash or recycling stream and advises taking used batteries to designated drop-off locations instead of tossing them in curbside bins.
Part of a recent pattern of truck and facility fires
The latest San Jose blaze lands in the middle of a run of garbage truck and facility fires in the South Bay that investigators and local reporting have tied to batteries and other hazardous throwaways, a trend that has put curbside habits under a brighter spotlight, according to NBC Bay Area. Waste managers say these fires can wreck expensive equipment, disrupt regular collection routes and put both workers and nearby residents in harm’s way.
Not the first incident at local facilities
Recycling and transfer centers in the region have faced serious safety troubles before. In April 2025, a bulldozer hit a support pillar and triggered a roof collapse at a San Jose recycling center, a reminder that these high-volume operations carry real day-to-day risks.
How residents can help and where to drop off batteries
To cut down on the odds of another fire, Santa Clara County’s Household Hazardous Waste program accepts batteries and other dangerous household items by appointment, and the county website lays out what is accepted and how to book a slot, according to Santa Clara County HHW. The EPA also recommends taping battery terminals or placing batteries in separate bags before transport and taking them to designated recyclers instead of tossing them in regular trash or blue bins.
Investigators and the San José Fire Department had not released additional information about today’s blaze by late morning, according to KTVU. Residents with questions about smoke exposure or how to safely dispose of hazardous waste are advised to contact local authorities or call the county Household Hazardous Waste hotline at (408) 299-7300.
