ESSEX -- Crews remained on the scene of a stubborn fire at a recycling plant that started Wednesday afternoon all day on Thursday, and officials from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection joined them to ensure the air was safe for nearby residents.
Officials said they were challenged by the cold weather and amount of debris inside the factory.
One firefighter injured an ankle from slipping on ice.
DEEP is monitoring air quality and tested samples from inside the building, outside the building, further away from the building on the same property and downwind in the town of Essex at the fire station (where smoke was present). Nothing alarming was found, though some organic compounds or chemicals were detected at levels too low to create a risk to the public.
DEEP also tested water samples from a nearby brook, but no visible petroleum sheen was found, and no wildlife seemed to be distressed. The full results are expected on Friday.
DEEP says to stay away from any smoke in the area.
The recycling facility has more than 25 full-time employees.
Connecticut Water told FOX 61 that 650,000 gallons of water were used over a four-hour period to fight the fire. Over a 6-hour period, the fire departments used about 3,000 gallons of water per minute. The facility that the water comes from in Cheshire is designed to provide 1,000,000 gallons of water per day.
No injuries were reported.
