Firefighters Contain Fire Behind Scotch Plains, New Jersey Gas Station

SCOTCH PLAINS, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- A huge fire broke out at a gas station in Scotch Plains, New Jersey Tuesday afternoon.

As CBS2's Valerie Castro reported, fire crews were still on the scene around 5 p.m. putting water on the building behind the main gas station structure. That's where the fire started around 2:30 p.m.

Chopper2 was overhead as the fire issued a massive column of black smoke at the Lukoil gas station at 2239 North Ave.

Nearby residents said they could see the smoke from several blocks away as flames torched the structure.

Witnesses said several cars on the property were fully engulfed in flames at one point, and at least one building nearby was evacuated.

"We saw the back of the garage on fire, so we went into the bank and walked over and just the whole back was up in flames. It was insane and it was huge," said Abigail Edwards.

There were no reports of injuries, but those who live nearby said it's the neighborhood gas station that everyone uses and everyone knows the owners.

"Everybody from our town goes here. Everybody is really emotional about it because they're such good people," Edwards added.

The Scotch Plains Fire Department is still investigating the cause. Those evacuated from a nearby apartment building have been allowed to return.