By Anthony G. Attrino
nj.com
ELIZABETH, N.J. — The raging fire that heavily damaged the historic Singer Sewing Machine factory in Elizabeth continued to smolder Monday, as officials said the cause of the blaze remains under investigation.
“As of right now, it is still smoldering, but they are applying water. (There were) no injuries and we won’t know a cause for a while,” Ruby Contreras, city spokeswoman, said early Monday.
Firefighters battled the four-alarm fire after it was spotted by a motorist about 5:30 a.m. Friday at a large industrial building in the historic Singer Sewing Machine factory in the 100 block of Trumbull Street.
PREVIOUSLY: 4-alarm fire rips through N.J. industrial park
The factory, which closed years ago, had been converted into space for dozens of businesses in Elizabeth. There was no one on the premises when the fire began, officials have said.
By Saturday morning, the fire was under control with firefighters working on several hotspots.
The black plumes of smoke that rose high above the scene posed air quality concerns for communities miles away.
In addition, firefighters faced water supply issues that required assistance from the New York City Fire Department and other agencies and resulted in an advisory to city residents that water pressure might be low on Friday.
Since then, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has reported that air quality had remained safe and officials in Elizabeth have said water pressure is normal.
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