Recycling center fire sends black smoke over Indianapolis

INDIANAPOLIS, June 15 (UPI) —

A major fire at a recycling center warehouse fueled by car tires and wood ballets sent clouds of black smoke floating over Indianapolis Saturday.

Fire officials said the blaze, which broke out about 1 p.m. near downtown Indianapolis and forced the evacuation of nearby homes, may not be extinguished until Monday, The Indianapolis Star reported.

"This is a very dangerous situation," city police spokesman Christopher Wilburn said. "Dangerous to breath the smoke and dangerous because we don’t know what the fire is going to do."

One firefighter suffered a minor injury.

A third of the 400-square-foot Nationwide Recycling warehouse’s roof had collapsed by late afternoon. The newspaper said several explosions were heard, possibly from trucks and propane tanks stored inside.