Brush Fire Near Izod Center In New Jersey Contained After Firefighters Battle Flames
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The last vestiges of a brush fire smoldered Wednesday night in Carlstadt. Acres of marshland were blackened along the New Jersey Turnpike near the Meadowlands by the flames that firefighters battled all afternoon long.
1010 WINS' Al Jones With More On The Fire
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Thick, black smoke could be seen billowing from the area near the Izod Center throughout the afternoon. All signs indicated that the fire, now contained, would eventually burn itself out.
SEE: More Photos Of The Meadowlands Brush Fire
Emergency crews had been battling the blaze near 239 Paterson Plank Road. Fire companies from seven towns responded to the fire, which broke out around 1:15 p.m. Wednesday, Carlstadt Mayor William Roseman told 1010 WINS.
WCBS 880's Peter Haskell reports
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Smoke from the fire, which reached five alarms at one point late Wednesday afternoon, could be seen as far as Lower Manhattan.
Local fire departments continue to work to protect any livable structure in the vicinity. No evacuations have taken place.
Winds were not strong -- at times gusting to 10 or 20 mph. In addition, since the fire burned in the middle of a swamp, there was less tension and anxiety surrounding the circumstances, CBS 2' Pablo Guzman reported.
"We have a lot of area to cover as you can tell. We have a lot of different factories...we're trying to protect. There's no houses involved, basically just warehouses and storehouses," Fire Chief Tom Sadra told Guzman.
Rain levels well below normal, dry conditions and winds in the Tri-State Area have made for a dangerous combination this week.
Minor traffic delays were reported as some black smoke wafted east over the New Jersey Turnpike, WCBS 880's Peter Haskell reported. Drivers had also been urged to avoid the western spur of the Turnpike.
As of 10:40 p.m. Wednesday night, traffic near the fire scene had eased up.
