Massive Warehouse Fire In Hillsborough, NJ Contained But Not Out
HILLSBOROUGH, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- More than 24 hours after a massive warehouse fire erupted in central New Jersey, firefighters have been able to contain the blaze despite several set backs.
Officials are still not sure what sparked the fire at Veterans Industrial Park in Hillsborough around 3:30 p.m. Thursday. At its peak it could be smelled from miles away and generated smoke that was detected by weather radar.
Video from the scene showed flames and heavy smoke pouring into the air. Some trailers parked outside also caught on fire as crews worked to contain the blaze.
By Friday afternoon, the fire was contained to just two buildings, each of them 240,000 square feet, CBS2's Andrea Grymes reported.
"It's amazing that it's still going strong," said Franklin Rainear.
"It was frightening. It's quite huge to say the least," said Don Dix.
Fire crews from more than 30 towns sent more than 200 vehicles to help fight the fire.
Shifting winds did help spread the flames and cause additional pop-up fires from embers. Firefighters also had to battle the bitter cold during the night.
"We have apparatus issues because of the weather. The firefighters have to be rotated in and out on a very regular basis because of that," Chief Fire Marshall Christopher Weniger said.
Another major issue firefighters are facing is water pressure at the site, which is federal property leased to private tenants, CBS2's Tony Aiello reported.
Hillsborough Township said it has warned the management company for years that insufficient water supply would make it hard to fight a major fire there.
"Although there are water hydrants on there, the pressure that we're getting and the flow is very very small," Weniger said.
A big part of the operation is bringing tanker trucks filled with water to the site, pumping the water into portable pools and then spraying the water onto the fire.
Two firefighters have sustained injuries, Aiello reported.
Fire officials said plastic pellets were being stored in most of the complex and environmental officials have been testing air quality.
Health officials said levels of toxins were never an issue and so-called particle pollution from soot was only briefly above the safety threshold.
"The numbers have dropped dramatically. We're really out of the air quality concern portion of this event," said Township Health Director Dr. Glen Belnay.
"Yeah it's a lot of smoke. I was wondering about the air quality and so forth as well; but they say it's safe," said Rainear.
Because of the fire, all Hillsborough Township Public Schools were closed Friday and all after school events were canceled.
Emily and Maddie Bienstock kept their dad Dave busy during their unscheduled day off.
"(Aiello: What do you make of the decision to close school today?) A little frustrating. I mean, I guess the safety is most important, but just frustrating to have another day off from school that's not planned so I had to take today off from work," said Bienstock.
The 300,000-square-foot complex was once used to house old military munitions and is near historic Duke Farms. The estate that belonged to the late tobacco heiress Doris Duke has not been damaged.
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