Chief said the many challenges made this fire the largest he has ever seen in Somerset County. Watch video
HILLSBOROUGH -- When Hillsborough Chief Fire Marshall Chris Weniger arrived at the massive warehouse fire at Veterans Industrial Park shortly after 3 p.m. Thursday, he knew he was in for the biggest fire he has faced in his 33-year career.
Weniger said he witnessed an inferno that was raging out of control.
"We didn't arrive at a small fire and it grew," Weniger, the township's chief fire marshal for the past 18 years, told NJ Advance Media Saturday. "We arrived at a large fire. Also, the wind was a big factor.
"Within the boundaries of Somerset County, I can't think of a larger fire. Just the sheer size of it. And the fact we had so many challenges with the weather, the wind, the water supply wasn't the best."
Old sprinklers and hydrants to blame at blaze
Weniger said the fire was officially contained Friday morning. As of Saturday morning, he said rotating crews are on "mop-up" duty, extinguishing small hot spots. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Veteran firefighters agree that the overnight blaze at Veterans Industrial Park, which required firefighters from more than 30 communities and five counties - Hunterdon, Mercer, Morris, Warren and Somerset - and more than 200 vehicles to contain, was the biggest in the county in recent memory.
The blaze closed Route 206 for much of Thursday and Friday, the major thoroughfare in the township of more than 38,000 residents that was voted one of Money Magazine's "100 Best Places to Live" in 2015.
"I can't even imagine being a first responder," said Bradley Gardens Fire Chief Frank Ur. "I'm just glad no one got seriously hurt."
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Ur said the fire was the most intense in the county that he's been involved with since the blaze at the Bradco Supply Corporation on March 4, 2006. In that fire, highly-flammable roofing materials burned quickly and 25 fire units fought the blaze. Thick black smoke billowed over the 13-acre property and could be seen from miles away. Wind gusts complicated matters.
"Just the roofing materials alone made it difficult," said Ur.
By Friday morning, the fire at Veterans Industrial Park was contained to the two 240,000-square foot buildings initially involved at the four-building warehouse complex.
Firefighters worked 10- to 12-hour shifts with anywhere from 50 to 100 firefighters working at any one time. Six to 10 ladders were operating at the peak of the fire. An outdated sprinkler system and aging hydrants led to inadequate water pressure, which hampered firefighters, Weniger said.
Two firefighters suffered minor injuries - a leg injury and an eye injury.
Initially, there was concern about the air quality levels as smoke blanketed the sky for miles. Residents in the areas of Camplain, Old Camplain and Sunnymead roads and Brooks Boulevard avoid exposure to the smoke and keep windows closed.
The federal Environmental Protection Agency set up six air monitoring stations overnight. Friday morning it was determined that after an overnight spike, the levels returned to below those dangerous levels.
Residents in the areas of Camplain, Old Camplain and Sunnymead roads and Brooks Boulevard avoid exposure to the smoke and keep windows closed.
The four large buildings contained various commodities, storage containers, paper records storage and plastic chips and pellets. The buildings are owned by the federal government and leased to a private company that, in turn, sub-leased them to the firms operating out of the complex.
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Because the site is owned by the federal government, Hillsborough has little jurisdiction over it, officials said.
Weniger said he was overwhelmed by the support from surrounding municipalities and counties and the community.
"We're extremely grateful for the assistance from the neighboring communities and counties," said Weniger. "We want to thank the mutual aid, the Somerset County Office of Emergency Management, our dispatchers at the Somerset County Command Center, the New Jersey Department of Fire Safety and, of course, the firefighters.
"Most of these firefighters are volunteers and they continue to come out here in these brutal conditions and fight fires. I can't say enough about them.
"Finally, I want to thank the community at large and the business community in Hillsborough. We received so many well-wishes. There was food and water. There were signs of support. It was real nice to know the community is appreciative and supportive of our efforts."
Dave Hutchinson may be reached at dhutchinson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DHutch_SL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.