Dubuque Firefighters Contain Radford Road Recycling Fire

Folks driving along Radford Road in Dubuque on Thursday afternoon were met with a log jam of emergency vehicles at Dittmer Recycling.

Credit: Tom Drake

Shortly after 3 PM on February 12th, 2026, crews from the Dubuque Fire Department were called to 1755 Radford Road after an employee reported smoke coming from a large pile of recycling material inside the building. According to a press release from the Dubuque Fire Department, dispatch sent a full response, including four engines, two trucks, two medic units, a battalion chief, and a command vehicle.

Credit: City of Dubuque / Dubuque Fire Department

Engine 2 arrived to find what crews classified as a working fire. Inside the large industrial facility, firefighters faced heavy, light-colored smoke and zero visibility. The fire involved a massive pile of recycling materials measuring about 20 feet high, 60 feet long, and 50 feet deep.

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Crews stretched hose lines and immediately applied water to stop the fire from spreading. At the same time, other firefighters searched the building and checked nearby areas to protect the structure and equipment. Thick smoke filled the space as crews worked through the building to determine the extent of damage and the size of the blaze.

Because of the size of the ignited recycling pile, firefighters had to spend significant time on overhaul duties. Additionally, facility personnel operated a loader to pull apart sections of the smoldering material to provide access to the firefighters and prevent further spreading. Firefighters followed suit by dousing hot spots and using thermal imaging cameras to monitor temperatures and prevent additional flare-ups.

Their efforts paid off. The fire damaged only the recycling material and did not spread to the building or its equipment. The Dubuque Police Department assisted at the scene, and the Farley Fire Department provided air resources. No injuries were reported among employees or responding crews. Fire officials did not report structural damage, and crews cleared the scene after ensuring the fire was fully extinguished.