BRKG Big chemical plant fire in Passaic NJ

newyork.cbslocal.com/2022/01/14/passaic-warehouse-fire-canal-street/

Crews Battle 8-Alarm Fire At Passaic Chemical Plant; Neighbors Told To Close Windows
Author: CBSNewYork Team
January 14, 2022 at 10:21 pm
Filed Under: Local TV, New Jersey, Nick Caloway, Passaic, warehouse fire


PASSAIC, N.J. (CBSNewYork) — Crews are battling an eight-alarm fire at a chemical plant in Passaic.

As a result of the fire, Route 21 is closed in all directions at Exit 12/Dayton Street.

The three-story warehouse on nearby Passaic Street caught fire around 8:30 p.m. Friday.

Mayor Hector Lora on Facebook told all residents to stay away from the area and those who live in the area to close their windows.

According to the mayor, multiple buildings were involved.

Crews battle major fire at chemical plant, section of N.J. highway closed
Passaic Fire
Fire at a chemical plant in Passaic. (Courtesy Twitter user @RichardCalle_ )
Firefighters were battling a major blaze at a chemical plant Friday night in Passaic, near Route 21, according to city Mayor Hector Lora.

The mayor, who was at the scene near Passaic Street and Columbia Avenue, asked residents to keep their windows closed and avoid the area.

“The fire continues to rage,” Lora said shortly after 9 p.m. “It is an extremely difficult and challenging fire.”

“There are presently multiple buildings involved. It is at a chemical plant,” the mayor said.

Lora said firefighters from several communities were called to help.

“As of right now, the fire has not impacted directly the chemicals,” Lora said. The building housed chlorine, he said.

Multiple videos shared on social media showed a building engulfed in flames. Lora later said in a video on Facebook that he was at City Hall preparing for possible evacuations. New York City residents may see and smell smoke from the fire, according to an alert from the city’s emergency management department.

Gov. Phil Murphy also asked nearby residents to keep their windows closed as the fire continued to burn around 10:30 p.m.

“We urge everyone in Passaic to stay safe as firefighters battle a large eight-alarm fire at a chemical plant off of Route 21. If you live nearby, keep your windows closed. Praying for the safety of our first responders on the scene,” the governor said on Twitter.

Route 21 South was closed as of shortly before 9 p.m. because of the fire, according to the state Department of Transportation website. More details were not immediately available.

Last year, Passaic and surrounding firefighters battled a massive 11-alarm fire at a recycling plant in the city.

11 alarm now.


Chemical fire breaks out at Passaic, New Jersey warehouse
Eyewitness News
2 minutes

PASSAIC, New Jersey (WABC) -- A massive chemical fire in New Jersey is sending plumes of smoke through the air.

The 11-alarm fire broke out Friday night at the Majestic Industries warehouse on Passaic Street.

The company manufactures gaming and hospitality furniture for casinos and bingo halls and is connected to a chlorine manufacturer. Firefighters say the main building where the fire broke out has collapsed.

Mayor Hector Lora is asking all Passaic residents to keep their windows closed and to stay inside because it is a dangerous chemical fire.

He says streets are blocked off from Passaic St. from 1st St. past Columbia Ave all the way up to Main Ave. As of right now, officials say surrounding buildings do not need to evacuate.


Firefighters on the scene are dealing with severe water issues due to a lack of water pressure from the hydrants.

One firefighter was treated at an area hospital for minor injuries.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Pandemonium,

Runtime 2:33

New Jersey: Raging 10 alarm fire right now at Passaic chemical plant 1-14-2022

View: https://youtu.be/YZ_GucHJ4Ho

I really hate to see the bystanders breathing that in. . . Doubt those masks are much help against whatever it is. . .

Nick Caloway
@NickJCaloway

Large fire at a chemical plant in Passaic New Jersey. The mayor is asking nearby residence to keep their windows closed
View: https://twitter.com/NickJCaloway/status/1482176741057650694?s=20

Doge
@IntelDoge
4m

Massive 11 alarm fire raging at Passaic, NJ chlorine plant. Mayor of Passaic says firefighters have kept flames away from a lot of the chemicals at the plant so far. HT @HardingReports for latest.
If the fire reaches the part of the facility where chemicals are stored, there will be large scale evacuations.

jward said:

Large fire at a chemical plant in Passaic New Jersey. The mayor is asking nearby residence to keep their windows closed

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It's 23 currently and supposed to be dropping to 12 so I doubt many people have windows open.

This is not good.

I can only pray for all involved, after working for 30 years in a chemical plant processing phosphoric acid, sulphuric acid, soda ash, potassium and other fun stuff I know how serious this can be.

I think that's rt 21 McCarter highway that's empty.

News12NJ
@News12
6m

UPDATE: As of 11:52 p.m., the mayor of #Passaic said the fire had impacted about 100,000 pounds of finished chlorine pellets but that firefighters had been able to contain the fire away from the main chlorine plant structure. MORE: http://bit.ly/3qqm0HL
View: https://twitter.com/News12NJ/status/1482215768523689991?s=20

Hope everyone has water filtration on hand.... this will definitely impact potable municipal water nationwide. May want to grab some pool shock asap and print the directions for making bleach drops for water treatment at home. You are about out of time.

Chlorine is an aggressive oxidizer and if breathed in can cause severe lung problems. Best to relocate away from the fire until it has been contained and out for personal safety for family especially with children.

Texican....

Matt, would you please explain how this will affect potable water nationwide? Thanks.

bev said:

Matt, would you please explain how this will affect potable water nationwide? Thanks.

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Water treatment facilities moved away from using chlorine gas and predominantly use hypochlorite solutions to disinfect public drinking water.

toxic avenger said:

Water treatment facilities moved away from using chlorine gas and predominantly use hypochlorite solutions to disinfect public drinking water.

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HOW BLEACH IS MADE
The manufacturing process of sodium hypochlorite bleach is lengthy, but everything can be done at one large manufacturing facility.
Raw Materials

The raw materials used for making bleach are chlorine, caustic soda, and water.

The hits keep coming.

bev said:

Matt, would you please explain how this will affect potable water nationwide? Thanks.

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Chlorine is used to make the chemicals that make your water potable. There are other manufacturers, but supply will tighten. This will have cascading effects through many industries.... so much more than just pool supplies

Thanks toxic avenger and Matt. You guys have brought a new dimension to thinking about this event.

Didn’t Russia say something about having “mechanical” means to respond to the West? I wonder. Of course, we could have multiple cells from many countries here getting ready to start their shenanigans.

Matt said:

Hope everyone has water filtration on hand.... this will definitely impact potable municipal water nationwide. May want to grab some pool shock asap and print the directions for making bleach drops for water treatment at home. You are about out of time.

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Looks like their products are intended for swimming pools.

Macgyver said:

Looks like their products are intended for swimming pools.

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Looks like you are correct about it being pool supply plant.... there was another fire in Louisiana back in May at another pool supply chlorine plant..... what are the odds?

Pool shock is about the only way for folks to store chlorine long term... the multiple fires in a relatively short time span makes me suspicious. Water borne illness is one of the biggest killers historically. Nothing is as it seems in these strange times.

Matt said:

Looks like you are correct about it being pool supply plant.... there was another fire in Louisiana back in May at another pool supply chlorine plant..... what are the odds?

Chlorine tablet shortages could be problematic for your wallet

Stores are allocated a certain amount of chlorine tablets to sell each month, and won’t be allowed to order more.

www.wivb.com

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It sounds like the fire actually started at the place next door. Then lit off the chemical plant.

Macgyver said:

It sounds like the fire actually started at the place next door. Then lit of the chemical plant.

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I hope it is just an industrial accident, they happen. Times are strange.