Dramatic fire rages overnight at New Westminster recycling facility

Fire crewsare still dousing a massive fire burning at a plastic recycling depot in the New Westminster's Queensborough area, nearly 12 hours after the fire began.

Witnesses began seeing flames several storeyshigh and smoke in thick black columnsnear the Annacis Island Swing Bridge,in the area of Derwent Way and Salter Street, around 7:30 p.m. PT on Monday.

Photos showed the orange glow of flames illuminating plumes of smoke over the city, the scene visible from blocks away.

City officials asked thepublicto avoid the area. Nearby residents were told theyshould close their windows and stay insideto avoid the smoke.

Fire crews from New Westminster and neighbouring citiesworked to control the four-alarm fire overnight. They appeared to be in the cleanup stage by Tuesday morning, with no smoke visible.

The fire came nearly onemonth to the day after another blaze destroyed a portion of New Westminster Pier Park. That firewhich reached timberthat was treated with aflammable, coal-tar basedpreservative was finally extinguished after 10 days.