NJ's Marcal Paper Plant destroyed by massive fire

New Jersey's Marcal Paper Plant was destroyed by a massive wind-driven fire Wednesday night, as hundreds of firefighters worked in the brutal cold to try and save it.

News 12 Staff

Jan 31, 2019, 8:26 PM

Updated 2,176 days ago

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New Jersey's Marcal Paper Plant was destroyed by a massive wind-driven fire Wednesday night, as hundreds of firefighters worked in the brutal cold to try and save it.
The fire was first reported Wednesday just before 5 p.m. and according to officials, the roof of the campus building collapsed around 6:30 p.m.
"There's nothing at this point to lead us to believe there's anything suspicious, but that remains to be seen," says Elmwood Park Police Chief Michael Foligno. "It started in what we believe the warehouse on the Riverside Drive, near Summit Avenue. It's a warehouse that houses big rolls of paper."
Fire crews had retreated from the perimeter of the fire and said that they would let it burn itself out due to how large the fire was.
Fire officials say they are worried about collapsing parts of the building and explosions from the propane tanks that are inside the factory.
Officials say it was difficult to fight the fire due to the extreme cold and strong winds. Fire crews were having issues getting water out of the fire hydrants for a time and had to pump water out of the nearby Passaic River.
Smoke and flames from the fire could be seen for miles. The strong winds were also blowing embers onto residential areas.
Despite the carnage, no injuries have been reported.