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Officials Working To Determine Impact Bridgeport Fire Had On Long Island Sound

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (CBSNewYork) -- The waters off Long Island Sound from Stratford to Fairfield remained closed to fishing and shellfishing Monday as following last week's massive warehouse fire in Bridgeport.

Dennis Shane, spokesman for Connecticut's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, said it is not known how much of the pollutants stored in the perfume-recycling factory made their way into the waters.

"The area in Bridgeport Harbor and nearby was red and purple as a result of dyes in the structures and the water used to fight the fire," Shane told WCBS 880 Connecticut Bureau Chief Fran Schneidau.

Officials Working To Determine Impact Bridgeport Fire Had On Long Island Sound

Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch said that while testing is not complete, damage may not be as serious as once feared. He said it's good news that there have not been any die-offs of fish or shellfish since the fire.

Officials may know by the middle of this week how long the shellfishing ban and no-fishing advisory will remain in effect.

The fire broke out at around 7 p.m. Thursday at the Rowayton Trading Company warehouse on Seaview Avenue.

The flames were so powerful, witnesses said, that fireballs shot up 100 feet into the air. The blaze devoured the building and the roofing company next to it.

It's not known what caused the fire.

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