SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, May 19, 2026 (Gephardt Daily) — Firefighters remained on scene Tuesday evening after a large fire broke out at a recycling operation in Salt Lake City near 369 South Orange Street about 3 p.m.
The fire sent thick black smoke high into the air prompting health warnings for nearby residents from the Salt Lake City Fire Department. The blaze involved both the exterior and interior of the industrial site, according to SLCFD Capt. Chad Jepperson.
“The fire was fairly significant. There was a lot of black smoke,” Jepperson told reporters at the scene. “At this point, we’ve got the structure itself under control. There’s no more fire inside of the structure.”
Jepperson said crews were continuing to battle smoldering materials outside the building, including piles of wood, plastics and electronics that created dense smoke and a strong odor.
“The nasty smell is coming from the plastics and other things that are in that,” he said.
Jepperson urged residents near the fire to avoid exposure to the smoke by staying indoors, keeping windows closed and limiting outside air circulation in homes and vehicles.
“The smoke is not good for you.”
Heavy equipment operators were assisting firefighters by using front-end loaders to turn over large piles of debris while crews applied water to extinguish deep-seated hot spots.
“The piles are about 5 to 7 feet deep, and you can’t get water to the base of it unless you see the base of it,” Jepperson said.
Photo: Gephardt Daily/Romy Colvin
Orange Street remained closed Tuesday evening while firefighters continued mop-up operations. Jepperson said crews would likely stay on scene overnight monitoring for flare-ups.
No injuries had been reported as of Tuesday night.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
