A fire broke out Saturday evening at a recycling plant in Albuquerque’s South Valley, prompting a major response from Bernalillo County Fire Rescue and Albuquerque Fire Rescue near Broadway Boulevard and Rio Bravo Boulevard. Officials also issued an air quality health alert due to smoke from the fire affecting the area.

📍 Albuquerque, New Mexico
🗓️ 5/23/2026

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Officials said paper was initially burning, but the fire later spread into aluminum and other recycled materials, creating challenging conditions for crews. Officials later confirmed the air quality alert has since been lifted, and no firefighter or worker injuries were reported. Could THIA have prevented this fire? 

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To learn more about this thermal event, click the link below. 

https://www.koat.com/article/firefighters-are-at-the-scene-of-a-large-recycling-plant-fire/71393907