Acetylene Tank Malfunction Apparent Cause of Fire at DPW Friday

A fire caused by an apparent malfunction of an acetylene tank at the (DPW) Friday morning is being ruled accidental, according to fire officials.

Firefighters responded to a fire inside the maintenance shop at the DPW yard on Clinton Road around 10:30 a.m., Chief Charles Holden said.

Employees were evacuated from the yard safely and no injuries were reported.

Holden said the fire severely damaged oxygen and acetylene tanks that were part of a burning kit used to weld metal, as well as a welding machine inside the maintenance shop. The fire also caused minor damage to the roof.

“We were very lucky,” Holden said. “It could have been very serious, but the emergency features on the tank operated as they were designed to operate.”

Holden said the burning kit was being used by DPW employees when the acetylene tank apparently malfunctioned. He said the gases in the tanks combine and are used through a torch to weld metal, and that the situation was potentially explosive.

"The root causes of the accident are under investigation, but it was accidental, unintentional, all of the above," Holden said.

Caldwell and Verona Fire Departments also responded to the scene, along with West Caldwell Police and the West Essex First Aid Squad.

Clinton Road was closed to traffic from Fairfield to Passaic Avenues. The scene was cleared at about 11:30 a.m.