Blaze Erupts in South Omaha, Smoke Visible from I-80

South Omaha sees massive vehicle fire near 60th Street, prompting multi-engine response

A large blaze broke out Saturday afternoon at an auto salvage yard in South Omaha, with smoke plumes visible from Interstate 80 and nearby neighborhoods.

Fire guts dozens of cars at Majors Plastics and U-Pull site Omaha Fire Department units were dispatched around 2:30 p.m. to reports of multiple vehicles ablaze at 5600 S. 60th Street, the site of a combined Majors Plastics warehouse and U-Pull salvage operation. Crews battled intense flames that engulfed roughly a dozen cars spread across two separate fire zones on the property.

Nut Graf The fire’s size and location along a major thoroughfare raised safety concerns among residents and commuters, underscoring the need for rapid response and effective containment to prevent injuries and environmental damage.

Key Developments

• Omaha Scanner first reported the vehicle fire on social media, noting the need for multiple engines to tackle the blaze.
• Witnesses observed two distinct fire pockets-one near the plastics warehouse and another at the salvage yard-fueling concerns about potential hazardous material involvement.
• Video footage shared online showed towering black smoke visible from as far west as 144th Street and I-80, prompting calls for air quality monitoring.
• Firefighters established a perimeter and focused on protecting adjacent structures, including nearby homes in Ralston and commercial properties along L Street.

Ongoing Response and Investigation Fire officials remain on scene to fully extinguish hotspots and cool down heated metal debris. A cause has not been determined; investigators are examining equipment malfunctions and possible electrical faults. Omaha HazMat teams are evaluating air quality and runoff to ensure community safety.

• Omaha Public Safety Desk