Massive fire burning at recycling plant in Laval

Extended: Huge fire burning at recycling plant Plumes of smoke billow into the air as a huge fire burns at a recycling plant in Laval, Quebec.

Firefighters expect it will be late Monday afternoon before a fire at a recycling plant is extinguished.

The fire began around 1:30 a.m. and ten hours later was nowhere near its finish.

The fire is burning at a recycling centre at 2185 Montée Masson and there are no hydrants in the area. Firefighters are bringing water and foam to the site in an attempt to control the flames.

Crews are removing vehicles one by one in an attempt to manage the spread. They expect the fire will burn itself out by 5 p.m. Monday.

About 3,000 non-functioning vehicles were stored at the recycling depot.

Environment officials are on site and have set up a mobile lab. All tests conducted so far show that the smoke is of no threat to the population.

The fire was caused by some sort of human error in manipulating vehicles or machinery.