NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — A massive fire that broke out at the Port of Newark Monday night has continued into the morning and caused a deterioration in the air quality around New York City.
According to Newark Public Safety officials, the fire broke out at the Port Newark Recycling Plant, on Calcutta Street, around 7:50 p.m.
Monday.
The fire, which involved a pile of metal in a scrap yard, continued through the morning commute and was still raging around 12 p.m. Tuesday.
As the fire burned, smoke continued to billow into the skies above the city and has drifted towards Manhattan, causing the air quality index in New York City to increase at an alarming rate.
According to the Environment Protection Agency’s AirNow website, the air quality index had risen to 152 by 11 a.m., a level considered unhealthy for everyone.
The EPA warned that people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children and teens should be extra cautious, but everyone should avoid strenuous outdoor activities and take steps to reduce exposure.
The New York City Office of Emergency Management has also warned that residents in Manhattan and the Bronx may see or smell smoke as the fire in New Jersey continues.
Photos posted by WCBS 880’s traffic reporter Tom Kaminski to Twitter showed the city surrounded in a haze of smoke early Tuesday morning.
Newark officials said firefighters remain at the scene and will utilize Essex County’s Neptune System to pull water for the river. The system has the ability to pump 10,000 gallons of water per minute.
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