Fire Destroys Public Works Garage In Edison

EDISON, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Officials are investigating what sparked a massive fire that destroyed a public works garage in Edison.

The fire began around 10 p.m. Thursday at the Edison Township Department of Public Works garage on New Durham Road.

By the time firefighters arrived, the building was already engulfed in flames. The building collapsed as the fire consumed fuel tanks, vehicles and tires.

"We did have someone explosions, a tire shop," Edison Fire Battalion Chief Ken Milcsik said. "So there were popping propane tanks, loading tanks."

The flames were so intense at times, it forced some residents out of their homes.

"It was spreading so much, the flames were spreading so high," resident Sangeeta Patel told CBS2's Janelle Burrell. "We all could have been dead right now."

"The flames were shooting up," resident Mookie Mendez said. "You could feel the heat from my window."

Crews worked for hours trying to turn off a gas line that fueled the blaze well into Friday morning.

"The roof caved in, it broke all the gas pipes above ground, so we've got a high pressure gas line that fed the building -- it's a large building so it takes a lot of gas to heat it," Milcsik said.

Authorities went door-to-door Thursday night warning residents who live nearby.

"Cops started pounding on the doors and told us they were scared," Mendez said. "They didn't know if there were toxins in the fire."

Officials said the blaze destroyed six of the town's salt spreaders, most of the fleet, as well as sanitation and fire trucks being serviced in the maintenance garage and a supply of salt.

No one was inside the building and no injuries have been reported.

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