Holy smokes: Fire triggers public safety alert

A four-alarm fire burned the ECS Refining recycling plant in Santa Clara on March 10, sending smoke and fumes over Santa Clara, where students, staff and faculty were advised to seek shelter indoors.

The fire, at 705 Reed St., was restricted to ECS's yard, and did not reach surrounding buildings. The facility was evacuated, and there were no injuries reported. The Santa Clara ECS facility recycles hazardous and non-hazardous electronic and photographic industry "e-waste."

A thick black smog and smoke from the fire prompted a public safety alert distributed by telephone and text message, warning students, businesses and nearby residents to stay inside to avoid breathing the smoke. The shelter-in-place message is a new system used by the city.

While the message reached many of the intended recipients, some outside of the intended area were contacted, causing some schools to unnecessarily hold students past dismissal time. Santa Clara's pool was closed for the rest of the day in order to keep swimmers and lifeguards inside.

More than 80 firefighters responded from Santa Clara, San Jose and Mountain View.

By Doug Ancey and Jennifer Ames Contributing Writers