UPDATE: Hillsborough Fire Rages On, Rt. 206 Opens

Hillsborough, NJ -- A massive warehouse fire that began Thursday afternoon continues to rage in Veteran’s Administration Industrial Park in the north end of Route 206 in Hillsborough. The cause of the blaze has not been determined.

“As of right now the fire is contained to the initial two buildings,” Hillsborough Mayor Frank DelCore said. “All roadways are open and we’ve had a tremendous response from surrounding area for local firefighters.”

DelCore said more than 30 fire companies from at least five different counties across the state and more than 200 emergency vehicles are currently on the scene.

As the fire continues to rage on, Hillsborough Fire Marshal Christopher Weniger said at a press conference early this afternoon that he “hopes for significantly less smoke by this evening.”

However, weather is playing a significant factor. Cold temperatures and wind have hindered efforts to extinguish the fire.

“Firefighters are still operating out there and will be out there for the foreseeable future,” Weniger said. “The cold weather is freezing water, and freezing the fire apparatus and wind was a problem yesterday. It certainly is not helping.”

“It will be at least several days before the fire is out,” Weniger said.

To douse the blaze, firefighters are refilling tanker trucks at a separate location and shipping it to the fire. The fire hydrants on scene are not providing enough pressure, Weniger said.

Route 206 and Roycefield Road were reopened around 5 a.m. Friday after being closed due to the fire. However, authorities closed the roads again for the majority of the day.

Route 206 between Camplain Road and Duke Parkway West is now reopened as of 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12.

Hillsborough Police Chief Darren Powell said Route 206 should be reopened before the evening commute.

All Hillsborough schools are closed Friday because of the fire, the school district said. After school events are also cancelled.

“The fire is still ongoing and hasn’t been fully extinguished,” DelCore told Patch. “With the school being within a relatively close proximity to the fire, it was really the school’s decision to close.”

Schools are expected to be open on Monday, Feb. 15.

After the third press conference of the day at 2 p.m., two injuries have been reported so far. DelCore said a firefighter on scene injured his leg and another hurt his eye. “That is the only injury we are aware of at this time,” DelCore said.

The buildings did have people inside initially but were evacuated before fire officials arrived at the scene, Weniger said.

The fire was reported at 152 Route 206 Thursday afternoon to two warehouse buildings that are roughly 240,000 square feet each.

The smoke is now visible as far as 50 miles away, with smoke sightings reported in Philadelphia as well as the Jersey Shore.

More than 12 hours later, firefighters are still working to contain the blaze. “As of now the fire is still very active,” a firefighter on scene told Patch around 7 a.m. Friday.

Burning inside the building are various commodities such as bulk quantities of funiture, clothing and paper records and a significant amount of plastic chips -- which Weigner says is the cause of the black smoke.

Somerset County Office of Emergency Management and New Jersey Division of Fire Safety are working with firefighters on scene to rotate crews in and out as needed for both vehicles and people.

Power was initially shut off in the area of the fire on Route 206 near Camplain Road. However, it has since been restored everywhere but at the location of the fire.

Reports have been flowing in on social media, with one resident reporting a “huge explosion” when the fire first broke out.

Police sent out an alert urging residents of Camplain, Sunnymead and Brooks to stay inside and keep their windows closed. Additionally, an air quality alert has been issued for township residents.

“Air quality is being monitored by the NJ Dept of Environmental Protection,” Hillsborough Police posted through Nixle. “They have found no issues with air quality. Air quality assessment will continue overnight.”

Dr. Glen Bellnay, Hillsborough’s Director of Health Department, said the US Environmental Proection Agency and New Jersey Division of Environmental Protection have both been on scene sampling the air levels.

There was an indication of an elevated particulate level recorded last night by the USEPA in the area of Route 206 and Camplain Road, which is located directly across from the fire. The level has since gone back down.

“The smoke is beginning to diminish,” Bellnay said. “There is no public health threat but we are asking residents to continue to stay indoors and not go out in the smoke.”

Due to the fire bordering the edge of the property, Duke Farms announced it will remain closed to the public Friday.

Another press conference is expected to held later this afternoon.

This is a breaking story, please refresh the page for updates.

Photo 1: By Alexis Tarrazi - Press Conference held with Mayor Frank DelCore with fire, police and administrative officials.

Photo 2: By Jessica Seltzer, smoke early this morning, Feb. 12 is still flowing from the fire.

Photo 3: By Northeast Bravest Facebook.

Photo 4: By Joy Carter on Route 206.

Photo 5: By Liz Kruppa of Hillsborough took a photo of the smoke.

Photos 6: Reader submitted.

The pictures are featured above. If you have photos send them to alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.

Check out this Drone video of the fire posted by New Jersey Fire Buff Network:

Check out this video from Northeast Bravest Facebook.

Check back for updates.