Thick smoke from recycling center fire closes road in Raleigh

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- A fire at a recycling center forced crews to close a side road in Raleigh on Tuesday morning.

Smoke from the fire engulfed the surrounding areas, shooting miles into the sky during the morning commute

The fire actually started Monday night at Wall Recycling Rowland Facility. Crews there tried to put it out themselves, but by Tuesday morning it has strengthened and the workers knew they needed help.

"They made an attempt last night to cover it up, but as the night progressed the fire got into the tree debris itself. So we came back out this morning at about 3:30," Wake New Hope Fire Department Chief Lee Price said.

Even as the professional firefighters arrived, Wall Recycling workers stayed around to help.

"They got on their machines and moved the mulch out of the way so we can get a better shot at putting the water onto the fire that was actually burning. And they're taking the excavator, pulling it apart, that way we can put it out more thoroughly," Price said.

The fire is deep inside the accumulated mulch, with many hills and valleys between it and the firefighters. All that makes for a very difficult and unpredictable fire.