A paper recycling plant in Greeley caught fire early this morning, causing much smoke and heat but no injuries.
A motorist driving past the Northern Colorado Recycling plant on the north side of Greeley about 5 a.m. today, reported heavy smoke coming from one of the plant’s four buildings.
Firefighters found large bales of paper in flames when they arrived. They called a second alarm, totalling 23 firefighters and about a dozen trucks.
Union Colony Fire and Rescue Division Chief Dale Lyman said the fire was confined to an 80 by 80-foot building. The aluminum roof, about 40 feet high, was weakened by the heat, so firefighters didn’t enter the building. It took firefighters about two hours to extinguish the blaze.
“We’re pulling apart bundles of paper now,” Lyman said. “There still is smoldering paper. But the concern is the integrity of the building.”
Lyman said one of the plant’s workers reported putting out a small fire Monday, which may have continued to burn.
He said the company had a large fire 11/2 to two years ago when a shredder malfunctioned.
