Warehouse fire in North Brunswick still burning
NORTH BRUNSWICK, N.J. (WABC) -- Most of a massive fire that tore through a New Jersey warehouse is under control, officials say, but evacuated residents still have not been allowed to return to their homes.
Officials say residents will be allowed back in Thursday night only to gather essentials. Residents are expected to be allowed back for good on Friday sometime.
Tankers delivered water from other towns to the site as firefighters continued to battle hot spots so excavators can go deeper into the still burning area with machines. "They're tearing the building apart, and as they tear it apart, we're extinguishing those pocket fires," said North Brunswick Fire Chief Donald Salzmann.
Smoke was still visible on the ground. The Environmental Protection Agency said the air quality surrounding the North Brunswick area near the fire appeared to be safe.
Some video of the warehouse a day after the fire:
Joel Sanchez and his wife Lindsay were OK with officials deciding one more night away from home is best, as they continue to see plumes of smoke rising from the site.
"Where it was going toward the middle yesterday, it's actually shifted towards the back end where we are," said Sanchez.
"The particles that are in the air are indicating that we don't think we should have people in the area," said North Brunswick Police Director Ken McCormick.
The five-alarm fire broke out just after 2:30 a.m. Wednesday inside the DCH Collision Center on Livingston Avenue. The fire was mainly in the center of the building when it started. "We were trying to maintain it from running the length of the building towards the south and we were unsuccessful in doing that," said Salzmann.
North Brunswick firefighters answered the call of an alarm to the back side of the building. But after fire officials say the sprinkler system was unable to contain the fire, additional manpower was called in from five surrounding counties.
Salzmann said that firefighters were concentrating their efforts on flames in the part of the building that houses a plastics business.
Video of firefighters Thursday morning working on hotspots:
Residents spent an anxious night away from home during a night of constant air quality tests.
"That was one of my main concerns because we're so close. We were right in the line of fire, should the wind blow in that direction," a resident said.
"We still have like the cinders and all the pollution, so we need them to wash them away," another said.
Officials must wait for the fire to be extinguished before they can begin their investigation into the cause.
"At this time, we've been monitoring the air quality," said North Brunswick Mayor Mack Womack. An EPA official said while there are concerns about toxins, current readings have not revealed any health threats.
"We are aware and very cautious with regard of any kind of toxics there could be," Womack said.
Eight businesses were destroyed in a warehouse that contained myriad home finishing products. "Most of it is modern combustible stuff, but it does give off a toxic smoke," said Salzmann.
NEWSCOPTER7 VIDEO:
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These photos came in from Eyewitness News Reporter Kala Rama, who was at the scene:
For hours, heavy flames and smoke could be seen coming from the building. The fire burned through the roof.
The main occupant is New York-based Achim Import Co., which makes floor coverings, blinds and household furnishings. The fire started in the Achim section of the warehouse, which was unoccupied at the time. A North Brunswick police officer said the warehouse is as big as 50 football fields.
DCH Brunswick Toyota also has a body shop at the warehouse which was destroyed. They also have a dealership and a service center in two separate buildings across the street from the warehouse, but those were not damaged.
One firefighter's hand was injured. Smoke could be seen for miles, even as far away as New York City:
Some residents of the nearby Birchwood Apartments condo complex were evacuated and described the scene there.
"I woke up to banging on the door, text messages that there was fire at the warehouse. We were up and out of the house by 4:30," said Sanchez.
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