RANCHO CORDOVA — Firefighters have been battling a large fire Friday evening at a vehicle salvage yard in the Rancho Cordova area, where flames burned through multiple vehicles and nearby grass, sending a thick column of black smoke across eastern Sacramento County, including into Folsom.
The fire was reported shortly before 5:45 p.m. in the 3400 block of Recycle Road, near Sunrise Boulevard and Douglas Road. The area is located between the Folsom South Canal and Sunrise Boulevard, a short distance east of Mather Airport.
According to the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District, crews responded to what was described as a combined commercial and grass fire at an auto wrecking business. Initial reports indicated several vehicles were burning at the property, including vehicles stacked on storage racks near the rear of the yard.
Sac Metro Fire Battalion Chief Chris Vestal shared an update to media early in the incident that additional resources were being assigned as the fire expanded.
“Multiple additional units have been assigned and it is an expanding incident,” Vestal said shortly after the fire was reported. “And there will be impacts for an extended duration in the area.”
Aerial images shared by Sac Metro Fire showed heavy smoke rising from the wrecking yard as crews worked to contain flames burning through rows of tightly packed vehicles. A Metro Fire helicopter was also used in the response, making water drops as firefighters attacked the fire from the ground.
The exact number of vehicles that burned was not immediately known Friday evening. The cause of the fire also remained under investigation.
Fire officials were also working to determine whether the salvage yard contained lithium batteries or other potentially hazardous materials. Vestal said crews were trying to identify possible hazards but were unable to fully assess every vehicle involved while the fire was active.
The fire also spread into grass between the business and the nearby canal. Radio traffic from the scene indicated the marshy area bordering the yard was helping limit the fire’s potential to spread farther beyond the property.
Several roads near the fire scene were closed Friday evening as crews continued operations. Drivers were urged to avoid the area around Recycle Road, Sunrise Boulevard and Douglas Road to allow emergency crews room to work.
Smoke from the fire was visible across multiple parts of the Sacramento region, including Rancho Cordova, Rosemont, Arden Arcade and Folsom. Residents who could see or smell the smoke were advised to avoid the plume when possible, close windows and limit outdoor activity, especially those with respiratory conditions.
No information on injuries had been released as of Friday evening.
The fire remained an active emergency response Friday evening, and additional information was expected as crews continued to work the incident.
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