ELMWOOD PARK — A major fire broke out at the Marcal paper factory in Elmwood Park, New Jersey Wednesday night. Multiple buildings were on fire.
Firefighters began battling the 8-alarm blaze at 35 Market Street around 5 p.m. Officials say the massive fire is threatening nearby homes and businesses.
“It’s freezing,” Police Chief Michael Foligno said. “Firefighters are dealing with water on their faces and on their hands, it’s spraying all over you. Regardless of your equipment, it impacts you and slows you down.”
Frozen pipes in the area also hindered the first responders. This is not the first time a fire has broke out at the factory.
“It’s not our first fire here. It’s frequent. It’s a paper mill, so it happens a lot,” Foligno said.
Over 100 firefighters were at the location.
@ABC7NY Yikes! Looks like the 4-alarm fire at Marcal Plant in Elmwood Park is showing up on radar with a smoke trail over NYC and Long Island. @LeeGoldbergABC7 @JeffSmithABC7 pic.twitter.com/3Omb9VebVs
— Tom Meiners (@WBBJ7TomMeiners) January 31, 2019
LOOK: approaching massive fire at #Marcal paper plant. Huge cloud of smoke enveloping neighborhood and RT. 80. Flames still jumping out of building. @NBCNewYork pic.twitter.com/FERrgfqwsV
— Ray Villeda (@RayVilleda) January 31, 2019
Marcal Paper Fire #elmwoodpark NJ. screenshot taken from @FGBNNJLLC livestream @CBSNewYork @FirehouseNews @fireengineering pic.twitter.com/ab2xVejGMs
— Tom G. (@tgalliford) January 31, 2019
@News12NJ View of Marcal Fire from river road Dunkin’ Donuts tenant pic.twitter.com/EiLDw5LYcT
— Jake T (@JakeTPolitico) January 31, 2019
#marcal pic.twitter.com/qWbbFBkjtt
— Fatih Sultan (@fskusa) January 31, 2019
Wow, temp was 7° with high winds, passed #Paterson #NJ on #route80 and a massive fire at #Marcal paper factory, temp on car dashboard rose to 59°. Massive fire! ???????????? pic.twitter.com/s5w8Ppl5WP
— Ed (@eddiespike) January 31, 2019
No injuries have been reported.
