Massive Fire Consumes Marcal Paper Plant In Elmwood Park

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — A massive multi-alarm fire consumed the Marcal Paper plant in Elmwood Park Wednesday night.

The seven-alarm fire was at first contained to the warehouse along River Road, borough Police Chief Michael Foligno told NorthJersey.com, but it later spread to the main building and toppled the iconic Marcal sign on top of it. The warehouse has large paper rolls that are used to make tissues, toilet paper, and paper towels. More than 100 firefighters were at the scene, according to the report.

Foligno could not be immediately reached for comment.

Twitter users who drove by the blaze reported that embers were hitting nearby Route 80 as the fire burned the building to the ground.

Whipping winds blew embers from the fire into the area, creating a concern for nearby homeowners, according to a CBS2 report.

The fire broke out around 5:15 p.m. and triggered a large response from area fire companies, CBS2 reported.

Nearby homes may have to be evacuated, NorthJersey.com reported.

Nobody was inside the building and when the fire broke out, CBS reported. No injuries were reported, according to NorthJersey.com.

It is the second time this month a fire broke out at the iconic North Jersey landmark.

A crane ran over an extension cord and sparked a fire in a bowl of paper dust at the facility Jan. 10. That fire was quickly extinguished, police said.

Videos posted to social media show the building completely on fire as flames shoot out in all directions and smoke billowed up into the frigid January air.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com

Image: YouTube screenshot