Eisenhower Parkway Re-Opened after Chemical Fire

Eisenhower Parkway re-opened after a chemical fire Tuesday afternoon at 87 Dorsa Avenue that spilled poisonous chlorine gas into the air.

Authorities shut down the roadway and evacuated nearby buildings on Dorsa about 3:30 after reports of a fire in a storage trailer containing some 500 pounds of chlorine tablets used for swimming pool maintenance. Patch reporter Phil Hoops reported from the scene that the smell of chlorine was in the air for a while before firefighters extinguished the flames.

Livingston Fire Chief Chris Mullin said the fire department first received a call about smoke coming from the trailer and then got a report of flames and an explosion.

Livingston Township employee Joe Hirus, who works nearby, said he heard the initial explosion.

Tony Dias, who works next door to the trailer at Desesa Engineers, said the chlorine fumes were strong. "Of course the wind didn't help," he said. "We're lucky our building was spared."

Fire Chief Mullin said the cause of the fire was unknown.

Firefighters evacuated two nearby buildings, but the only report of an injury was a firefighter who had his eyes washed out by EMT workers after feeling a burning sensation.

Livingston firefighters were assisted by units from the Millburn and Roseland Fire Departments. The Nutley Hazardous Materials Unit also responded.