Crime & Safety
Junkyard Blaze Posed No Health Risk to Area Residents, Police Say
Firefighters returned to the scene for about six hours after tires re-ignited Sunday night.
Air samples taken near a massive Jefferson junkyard fire this weekend showed no risk to area residents, township police said Monday.
According to Capt. Eric Wilsusen, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection examined area streams with no pollution found and air samples taken while firefighters battled the blaze indicated no health risk.
A total of 23 fire companies responded Saturday night to Sar's Auto Wreckers on School House Road where the blaze "extensively damaged" about half of the several thousand vehicles on the property, Wilsusen said.
The Jefferson Township and Morris County emergency management teams and the Morris County Hazmat, which monitored air quality in the area, all responded to the fire, which broke out at about 7 p.m. Saturday.
The fire raged for more than 12 hours, finally being brought under control at about 8 a.m. Sunday, Wilsusen said. Firefighters then remained on the scene for much of the day extinguishing a large pile of tires, Wilsusen said.
Tankers were called back to the scene at about 9 p.m. Sunday when the tires re-ignited, Wilsusen said. Those flames were extinguished by about 3 a.m. Monday, Wilsusen said.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
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