A large blaze that engulfed Crown Recycling Facility in Calverton, Long Island, has been largely contained, with firefighting efforts progressing into the morning hours; the incident initially reported at around 2 a.m. this morning, required the combined response of over 30 fire departments and some 250 firefighters on site, supported by statements from Riverhead Fire Chief Piotr Kurzyna to News 12, "We were able to set up the ladders on both sides and a big building like this, you need ladders and water and we were able to provide that."
By noon firefighters worked steadily on extinguishing hot spots at the facility, which is known to process scrap metal, solid waste, and demolition debris, with the added risk of asbestos well-known from the facility's 30 plus years of operation within Suffolk County and the five boroughs of New York City; the fire's smoke and potential water runoff raised concerns, prompting officials from the Department of Environmental Conservation to initiate an on-scene investigation for any off-site effects, a status confirmed by a department spokesperson to CBS News.
The proximity of the fire to residential areas led to the precautionary advice from the Riverside Police and Suffolk County Fire Rescue and Emergency Services, advising residents to keep their windows closed until the smoke had completely dissipated, an advisory that echoes the concerns regarding air quality and toxicity after such industrial incidents.
With employees expecting to arrive for work instead met with the structure in flames, the personal toll was underscored by an employee, Edwin, who, when witnessing the unfolding scene, expressed to News 12, "I have no words," he said, "It's shocking for me." The impact of the fire also necessitated the temporary closure of Osborn Avenue to Orchard Road during emergency response efforts, and while the exact cause of the fire is yet to be confirmed as fire marshals and arson investigators remain at the scene, looking to uncover how such a catastrophe could have occurred.
The aftermath of the fire is now in the hands of the various agencies involved, with operations moving towards investigation and cleanup, as further updates from officials are awaited.
