Residents watch a giant smoke plume over their apartments as firefighters battle a fast-moving fire at an Ontario recycling center.

The massive fire at an Ontario recycling center late Friday afternoon sent a huge plume of dark smoke into the sky that could be seen throughout the Southland.

Ontario International Airport fire crews battle the fast-moving fire at a recycling center.  (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

The blaze was reported at 4:23 p.m. Friday at State Street and Bon View Avenue, the site of a business that also stores wooden pallets

The fire was contained by 7 p.m. Friday, but was expected to burn for some time.

The area of the fire is a mostly commercial zone of Ontario.