PASSAIC, New Jersey – The billowing black smoke has disappeared from the sky over the 11-alarm chemical plant fire that burned in Passaic throughout …
PASSAIC, New Jersey – The billowing black smoke has disappeared from the sky over the 11-alarm chemical plant fire that burned in Passaic throughout the night. “The fire is contained. But I can’t say it’s under control because of the pockets of fire,” Passaic Mayor Hector Lora told NorthJersey.com Saturday morning. “The goal now is to make sure it doesn’t reach the main plant.” More than 200 firefighters battled the 11-alarm chemical fire, which started at 8:16 p.m. at Majestic Industries on Passaic Street and soon spread to the nearby Qualco chemical plant, said Passaic Fire Chief Patrick Trentacost. It has now been downgraded to a four-alarm fire, but 25 companies remain on site, said Trentacost. “There’s fire in the basement underneath the roof,” he said. “It was a total collapse of a three-story building.” The 300-foot by 400-foot building was vacant but being used to store plastics, pallets and some chlorine, Trentacost said. The overwhelming scent of smoke and chemicals was enough to make people’s eyes water as far away as Wallington. Firefighters – who had to deal with frigid overnight conditions that froze hoses and hydrants and made walking on frozen ice treacherous – kept the fire from reaching an area where more chemicals were stored, said Lora. “This fire could have reached the main chemical plant and we could have been looking at a potential mass evacuation if not for Chief Trentacost and the mutual aid,” said Lora.
