Catastrophe averted as fire near chemical plant is contained

This picture from video supplied by Mikey B exhibits a hearth close to a New Jersey chemical plant, Friday, Jan. 14, 2022 in Passaic, N.J. A hearth at a New Jersey chemical plant with flames and smoke seen for miles within the evening sky Friday has unfold to a number of buildings, threatening to achieve the plant's chemical storage space, authorities stated.

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PASSAIC, N.J. (AP) — A dramatic hearth close to a chemical plant burned by means of the evening and into Saturday in northern New Jersey however led to no evacuation orders or critical accidents — simply heavy smoke that was seen and smelled in close by New York Metropolis.

The fireplace at Majestic Industries and the Qualco chemical plant in Passaic was in buildings housing plastics, pallets and chlorine, officers stated, however disaster was averted.

Crews battled pockets of the blaze into the afternoon, Passaic Mayor Hector Lora stated, but it surely was contained.

The fireplace was prevented from reaching the primary chemical plant, which might have endangered the densely populated New York Metropolis suburbs of New Jersey, Lora stated.

Close by residents have been suggested to shut their home windows however weren't required to evacuate, with officers saying air high quality remained acceptable and can be monitored.

Some residents fled nonetheless.

“It’s worrying. You don’t know what’s going to occur,” Joel Heredia advised WCBS-TV.

Frigid climate froze water from hydrants and hoses, hampering boats making an attempt to attract water from the Passaic River and inflicting firefighters to slide and fall, Lora stated. One firefighter went to the hospital with a watch harm, he stated.

Safety guard Justin Johnson advised WCBS-TV he was working alone, checking water stress, when he observed smoke coming from a smokestack-like tower. He wasn’t positive what to make of it however referred to as the fireplace division as alarms went off.

Passaic Hearth Chief Patrick Trentacost stated three hearth vans on the scene have been frozen in ice Saturday afternoon as temperatures remained beneath 20 levels Fahrenheit, NorthJersey.com reported.

The 300-foot (91-meter) by 400-foot (122-meter) constructing was vacant however getting used to retailer plastics, pallets and a few chlorine, Trentacost stated. Some hearth remained within the basement underneath the roof however “it was a complete collapse of a three-story constructing.”