A fire broke out on the Salt River Reservation landfill near the Beeline Highway and Gilbert Road Thursday night.

The fire ignited in a building where recyclables are collected, when cardboard bails on the east side of the building caught fire, said Kevin Makil, Salt River Fire Department spokesman.

The fire initially was small, but as crews attempted to put it out, strong winds caused the fire to quickly spread, Makil said. 

Both directions of State Route 87 were closed initially near the fire due to heavy smoke but opened a few hours after, Arizona Department of Transportation tweeted. 

As of 1 p.m. Friday, the fire was considered controlled, though still burning in areas, he said. 

“They (crews) were just doing overhaul to make sure that it wouldn’t spread any further,” Makill said.

Makil said 40 personnel from Salt River Fire Department and Mesa Fire and Medical Department were called to battle the fire.

No injuries were reported and all landfill employees were accounted for, he said. 

Makil said an investigation into the cause will take place once the fire is fully extinguished.

Breaking News Reporter, Alyssa Stoney, can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @stoney_alyssa

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