A significant fire broke out at a commercial building in South El Monte on Wednesday, generating a dense plume of smoke that could be seen from miles away throughout the San Gabriel Valley. The incident occurred at P & T Metals, located at 2215 N. Tyler Ave., near Klingerman Street, where heavy flames rapidly consumed the facility.
Emergency responders from the Los Angeles County Fire Department arrived onsite just after 2:30 p.m., encountering substantial flames and smoke as they worked to control the situation. Video footage captured during the event showed a massive cloud of black smoke billowing into the sky, creating a stark visual in the surrounding neighborhood.
As a precaution, authorities issued a shelter-in-place order for residents and workers in the vicinity. The building itself appeared to be a metal shop operating with several large warehouses filled with recycled materials, including metals like titanium and propane tanks, all of which were fully engulfed in flames.
Currently, the cause of the fire remains unknown, and it is unclear if anyone was present inside the building at the time of the outbreak. Firefighters are continuing to battle the blaze, which has reportedly resulted in the roof of the structure caving in, indicating severe damage to the facility.
Updates will follow as the situation develops and more information becomes available.