Hazardous Materials In Bergen County Garage Spark Investigation: Officials Give Update

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — County and local law enforcement agencies responded to a garage in River Edge on Monday due to a report of hazardous materials there, officials said.

Jeff Angermeyer, the deputy chief of detectives for the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office, said his office was "aware of the hazardous materials investigation at a private residence on Sixth Avenue in River Edge" on Monday afternoon.

He said that the River Edge Police Department, River Edge Fire Department, Bergen County Hazmat, and the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office all received notice of an incident and monitored the situation.

"Preliminary information from the scene was relayed to our detectives and indicated that this occurrence involved aging stored materials," Angermeyer said. "Mitigation efforts and techniques to ensure the scene remained safe were completed by the first responders and experts from the County of Bergen."

These included Hazmat technicians and officers from the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, he said.

The incident was not criminal in nature, he said.

A Lesson Emerges

He noted, "I wish to add that situations like this are an important reminder for residents across Bergen County to be aware of the various household and commercial chemicals or materials that are sometimes stored and then forgotten about. Increased public awareness about storage and proper disposal practices can prevent potentially dangerous situations."

He added, "There are many resources available from the County of Bergen, from local authorities, and – of course – through local fire departments whenever questions arise about the storage and disposal of potentially hazardous materials."

Find out more here.

Angermeyer thanked River Edge Police Chief Michael Walker for the coordination and professionalism of his agency.