Firefighters have contained landfill fire in Surprise that sparked Friday

PHOENIX — A fire that erupted at a landfill and recycling plant in Surprise on Friday has been contained, and Surprise fire and medical personnel are no longer at the scene, authorities said.

Crews were able to contain the fire after about 48 hours of operations, and the department will continue to monitor the situation.

The fire and medical personnel prevented the flames from spreading to any surrounding homes or businesses, and all hot spots have been completely extinguished, authorities said.

Authorities will continue to monitor the air quality, and those who are sensitive to smoke or deal with breathing conditions should limit their outdoor exposure, staying indoors when possible.

The fire was first reported shortly after 7 a.m. Friday at a landfill on Deer Valley Road, according to the Surprise Fire-Medical Department, and it was expected to keep crews busy until the middle of this week.

When the fire first started, crews from several neighboring departments joined the response, including Phoenix, Sun City, Arizona Fire & Medical Authority, Buckeye, Peoria and Glendale, with dozens of engines, trucks, brush units and command officers at the scene or staged in the area.

On Saturday, Surprise Fire Battalion Chief Larry Subervi said that crews were controlling hotspots around the perimeter of the fire, noting that a collapse had caused instability.

There was also additional heavy equipment brought in to help separate building and recycling materials.

The landfill is open, but there is no new information on when the recycling plant is expected to reopen.

No firefighter or civilian injuries have been reported, officials said. However, there was a kitten saved during the first stages of the blaze. The feline was brought back to the fire station to be cared for before moving onto its next home.

The cause of the fire is unknown and remains under investigation.

This is an updated version of a story originally published on April 24, 2026. 

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s David Iversen and Douglas Santo contributed to this report. 

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