Fire at Jersey City scrap yard creates huge plume of smoke

A fire at a scrap metal yard in Hudson County sent dark smoke billowing over the sky in New Jersey.

News 12 Staff

Apr 25, 2019, 9:45 PM

Updated 1,839 days ago

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A fire at a scrap metal yard in Hudson County sent dark smoke billowing over the sky in New Jersey.
The fire at Sims Metal Management on Linden Avenue East was first reported around 4:30 p.m.
Black smoke billowing from the site could be seen across the Hudson River in New York City, as well as miles across New Jersey. But about an hour after the fire started, the smoke turned white, which indicated that the fire crews were getting the fire under control.
Jersey City fire officials say that six ladder crews were getting help from employees of Sims Metal Management to battle the blaze.
“They have grappling hooks on machines. Basically big cranes helping to move debris piles and open them up for us so we could get to the body of the fire,” says Chief Steven McGill. “
McGill says that due to the nature of the work at the scrap yard, fires occasionally occur. All types of materials from cars to refrigerators get crushed at the site to be recycled.
"Sometimes there is still product in those things and when they crush it, it causes compression and friction. And sometimes you get fires,” he says.
But the exact cause of the fire has not yet been released.
No injuries were reported.


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