Crews work to contain tire fire in Maricopa

MARICOPA, AZ - Multiple crews are working to contain a tire fire that broke out at a Maricopa recycling plant Monday night, sending dark plumes of smoke into the sky.

Thousands of scrap tires are burning in the blaze, which sparked at the Arizona Rubber Recycling facility near Hartman Road and the Casa Grande Highway just after 7 p.m. Several Maricopa County crews have responded to the scene to assist in containing the fire.

Maricopa Fire Department spokesman Brad Pitassi said bulldozers are being brought in to dump dirt on the flames, which cannot be extinguished using water.

Crews are still at the scene Tuesday morning.

Pitassi tells ABC15 winds are not pushing the thick smoke far from the area, and there is no immediate danger to surrounding cities.

Crews have reportedly responded to the recycling plant for at least two previous fires, including a large blaze in 2007 that burned for seven days. Cleanup following the 2007 fire had just finished, according to Pitassi.

It is unclear at this time what sparked the fire.

Stay with ABC15.com for updates.