UPDATE: Heavy Smoke From West Nyack Landfill Blaze

Firefighters from West Nyack and surrounding communities are battling a stubborn fire in massive mulch piles at the recycling facility at the old Clarkstown Landfill just off Routes 59 and 303 in West Nyack.

Smoke from the fire has been drifting north and has been spotted as far north as Valley Cottage. Thick smoke is crossing Route 59, the east side of the Palisades Center mall parking lot and the New York State Thruway.

Local roads, however, remain open.

Firefighters are running hose lines from Route 303 and Route 59 to supply water to the firefighting effort, which is using a tower ladder to shoot water onto the affected areas.

Traffic is slow in the immediate area of the fire on Route 59.

The fire is not affecting the old, closed landfill, where much of Rockland County's trash was once dumped. The fire is also not affecting the garbage transfer area.