Massive Fire Breaks Out at Smurfit's Jacksonville Recycling Plant

No injuries reported as wind and dry conditions fueled the blaze at the paper products facility

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A major fire tore through the Smurfit Westrock recycling plant in Jacksonville's Mixon Town area on Monday afternoon, sending a large smoke plume visible across the metro. Jacksonville Fire Rescue says the fire burned quickly due to wind and dry conditions, but there were no reported injuries. Investigators are still working to determine the cause of the blaze.

Why it matters

The Smurfit Westrock plant is a major recycling facility in Jacksonville, processing large volumes of paper products. A fire of this scale could disrupt recycling operations and impact the local waste management system, as well as raise concerns about public safety and environmental impacts from the incident.

The details

According to reports, the fire started inside the main production building at the Smurfit Westrock plant, where large amounts of paper products were stored. The dry and windy conditions on Monday helped the fire spread rapidly through the facility. Jacksonville Fire Rescue crews worked to contain the blaze, but the plant sustained significant damage. Investigators are still working to pinpoint the exact cause of the fire.

  • The fire broke out on Monday afternoon, February 10, 2026.

The players

Smurfit Westrock

A major recycling plant in Jacksonville that processes large volumes of paper products.

Jacksonville Fire Rescue

The fire department that responded to and worked to contain the blaze at the Smurfit Westrock plant.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

Investigators are still working to determine the exact cause of the fire at the Smurfit Westrock plant. The facility will likely need to undergo repairs and assess any disruptions to its recycling operations as a result of the incident.

The takeaway

The massive fire at the Smurfit Westrock plant highlights the importance of fire safety and preparedness at industrial facilities, especially those handling large volumes of flammable materials. The incident also underscores the potential impacts a major fire can have on a community's waste management and recycling infrastructure.