The weather continues to be a problem for the firefighters on scene Watch video
UPDATE: Old sprinklers, hydrants to blame at Hillsborough warehouse blaze
HILLSBOROUGH -- Firefighters are in for a long haul as the massive warehouse fire at Veterans Industrial Park continues to burn, sending up large plumes of smoke that's visible for miles around.
"I would hope to see significantly less smoke by this evening," Chief Fire Marshal Chris Weniger said at a press briefing Friday morning. "Beyond that, I'd imagine that it's going to be several days before we're done."
The fire began just before 3 p.m. Thursday and quickly escalated, drawing companies from as many as five counties.
"We're certainly appreciative of all the work our local firefighters, as well as surrounding towns have done," Mayor Frank DelCore said.
It is now contained to the two buildings initially involved, but bulk amounts of furniture, paper records, food goods and plastic pellets that were stored inside continue to burn.
Weniger attributed much of the smoke to the plastic pellets.
The winds hampered firefighting efforts Thursday night, but the near zero or subzero temperatures continue to be a problem. The water freezes, apparatuses have run into issues and the 50 to 100 firefighters working at any one time have to be regularly rotated.
Most of the water being used to fight the fire are coming from tankers. There are hydrants on site, but because of their age and infrastructure, they're not providing nearly as much water pressure as is needed, Weniger said.
"Water is always an issue and a concern," he said.
Residents on warehouse fire: 'Biggest we've seen'
Weniger said the buildings are owned by the federal government, which leased them out to a management company, who then sublet the space.
There were people inside at the time the fire started, but they had left either prior to the fire department's arrival or with the help of firefighters.
"At this point, we have no origin or cause," Weniger said. "We're still assembling information, but we can't do a lot until we don't have that scene behind us."
DelCore sought to quell concerns that the buildings were the site of the former Defense Logistics Agency Depot, which once housed 12,500 barrels of mercury since the early 1940s. It was on an adjacent property and the last shipment of mercury left the township for Nevada in December 2010.
"It's been out of this adjacent facility for about six years," he said.
Views of fire shared on social media
The state Department of Protection and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency continues to monitor air quality, but DelCore said that at this point, there is no imminent public threat.
"Our main concern has been particulates because of the smoke leaving the site and we're seeing those are coming down considerable as the fire is contained," said Dr. Glen Belnay, the township's health officer.
Power has since been restored to area residents, but Route 206 between Dukes Parkway West and Camplain Road has been closed until further notice.
Cristina Rojas may be reached at crojas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaRojasTT. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.