7-alarm fire in commercial area of Jersey City spreads to nearby brush, disrupting light rail service near turnpike

JERSEY CITY, N.J. -- Dry conditions and windy weather made a bad situation much worse in Jersey City on Tuesday.

Embers from a big blaze at a recycling facility started multiple additional fires, impacting commuters.

Into the night, firefighters sprayed thousands of gallons of water onto the fire scene.

Earlier, Chopper 2 was over the scene showing massive bales of recycled paper burning bright orange and throwing off thick smoke.

Workers at Reliable Paper Recycling said flames from the seven-alarm blaze spread fast.

"I seen the fire, tried to grab the hose, was putting it out. It looked like I was gonna get it. Wind took it, got carried away. It was over," employee Christian Bozewski said.

We did the best could. Then we had to get out of there because we couldn't breath," Dan Cassiere added.

Whipping winds sent embers flying, lighting dry brush along the Hudson-Bergen light rail tracks, interrupting service for several hours.

Smoke and fire caused diversions and detours, as well on the Jersey Turnpike Extension.

"With the wind conditions we've had some of the paper blow onto areas of grass, that nature, and it extended far north, all the way to Exit 14C plaza by the Holland Tunnel," said Greg Kierce of Jersey City Emergency Services.

A still photo taken in Low Manhattan shows a column of smoke from the fire rising behind the Statue of Liberty.

"I got a call from New York OEM asking what was going on because, obviously, wind was blowing towards the city," Kierce said.

For commuters, the delays were temporary. For the 65 workers at the recycling plant, the damage may be permanent.

"It's killing me because as I'm standing here thinking, it looks like this probably will not be rebuilt. It's killing me right now. It really is," employee John Romano said.

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