By Rebecca Heath
nj.com
PATERSON, N.J. — A vacant chemical factory in Paterson was demolished after a massive, five-alarm fire tore through the building late Friday into early Saturday.
Crews responded to the former dye manufacturing plant of the Galaxie Chemical Corporation on Piercy Street around 11:30 p.m. for a report of heavy smoke, said Paterson Fire Chief Alejandro Alicea.
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“The incident quickly went to three alarms, and eventually to additional alarms due to water supply issues in the area,” the Paterson Firefighters Association said.
About 70 Paterson firefighters responded to the scene, along with nine mutual aid departments, as the blaze rapidly intensified.
The one-story building, which spanned an entire block, had been abandoned since around 2006, Alicea said.
The vacant warehouse was deemed a Superfund site. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and state Department of Environmental Protection found hundreds of drums of chemicals at the facility in 2018 following multiple fires at the property.
According to Alicea, several complications impacted firefighters’ ability to contain the blaze, which was brought under control Saturday morning.
Crews attempting to establish a water supply found that many of the hydrants in the area were not operational, while others had low water pressure, making fire suppression initially difficult, Alicea said.
Heavy timber construction also contributed to the fast-moving fire, officials said. Additionally, squatters were previously in the building and left behind trash and debris, fueling the blaze.
Amid the chaos, Alicea said employees of a nearby car dealership moved cars from their lot and parked them in the street, obstructing fire trucks and delaying crews’ efforts.
Some vehicles parked next to the building caught fire after being struck by debris, Alicea said.
A large gas line also ruptured, feeding the fire. Multiple power lines and utility poles on Piercy Street were damaged, and electricity was initially shut down on the block, Alicea said.
No injuries were reported.
The building had previously been cleared of chemicals, Alicea said. Hazmat crews monitored the air and found no cause for concern.
Crews demolished the building on Saturday.
The cause and origin of the fire remain under investigation by the Paterson Fire Division, the New Jersey Fire Marshal and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
“I want to thank my fire companies and the mutual aid partners, who were professional and stood at the ready to bring it under control,” Alicea said.
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