Dan Transport Warehouse Fire; Elizabeth, New Jersey

Elizabeth, New Jersey | 1996-Jan-10

Initial Notification: On January 10, 1996, the USCG Captain of the Port (COTP) New York (NY) was notified of a six-alarm warehouse fire, cause unknown, in Port Elizabeth, New Jersey. The fire caused the release of an unknown quantity of boron trichloride and other unknown materials. The weather on-scene was partly cloudy with winds northwest at 17 knots. There were more than two feet of snow on the ground. The weight of the snow and loss of structural integrity caused the warehouse roof to collapse. Several cylinders housed in the building exploded, causing a large mushroom cloud that reached Staten Island. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Port of Elizabeth Fire Department, and the New York City DEP responded to the scene. Local health departments issued health advisories and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) performed air monitoring and water sampling on-scene.The response lasted one day. USCG district 1. Keyword: none.