Parisa Burton 
A massive warehouse fire in Belleville has prompted a state of emergency and widespread disruptions, as crews continue battling the blaze and officials warn residents to avoid the area, NBC New York reported. The fire broke out Sunday, May 3rd, in the township’s industrial Valley section and quickly escalated into a major multi-alarm incident. As of Tuesday, May 5th, firefighters are still working to control hotspots on the site, and local schools remain closed. Read on for the latest updates on the state of emergency declared after the Belleville, NJ, warehouse fire.
Belleville mayor Michael A. Melham said that the fire began at a mattress warehouse at 347 Cortlandt Street and rapidly spread to nearby industrial facilities, fueled by strong winds and industrial materials inside, according to CBS News. On the evening of May 3rd, it grew to as high as an 11-alarm fire, drawing response crews from multiple North Jersey counties as thick black smoke filled the sky and drifted across surrounding communities. Officials urged residents to stay clear due to hazardous air conditions, though no civilian injuries have been reported. Mayor Melham said if it had happened on a weekday, it could’ve been a different story. The fire was put out this morning after burning for hours, although several buildings are still on watch, CBS News reported.
“It hasn’t gotten better,” a witness told NBC. “It just kept getting worse and worse and worse.”
As a result of the ongoing emergency, all Belleville public schools, along with major roads are closed Monday, May 4. NJ.com reported that the Route 7 bridge will be closed until further notice, which crosses from Bergen County into Belleville. The Town of Belleville has closed all recreation facilities and cancelled activities on Monday, May 4th.
The state of emergency remains in place as of Tuesday, May 5th. Local schools are still closed, and several residents have been evacuated, according to NJ.com.
Authorities say closures and restrictions remain in place as firefighting operations continue, with residents advised to avoid the Cortlandt Street area to allow first responders to safely manage the situation.
The Montclair Girl will update this story with more information as it becomes available.
Follow @themontclairgirl on Instagram + TikTok for the latest Montclair updates, sign up for our weekly newsletter here that shares everything you missed each week, and check out our events calendar, which has over 100+ events weekly to peruse.
