By SCOTT ALBRIGHT
STAFF WRITER

WOODBRIDGE: Burning wooden pallets, a tractor-trailer and cargo containers sent flames 60 feet into the air next to the New Jersey Turnpike in the Sewaren section of the township last night.

Pallets stacked 30 to 40 feet high at a recycling company on Pennval Road, off Woodbridge Avenue and just east of the Turnpike, caught fire about 9:20 p.m. and sent up flames and smoke about 100 feet from the toll road.

The 18-wheeler and two Sea-Land containers at the site were on fire as well. One Woodbridge-proper resident reported hearing an explosion before he saw the flames in Sewaren.

When firefighters from Woodbridge District 1 arrived, "It was pretty wild," said Chief Ray Deliman.

The fire was under control in about 50 minutes, Deliman said at the scene. He said he knew of no injuries as a result of the fire. He said the heavy smoke was not toxic.

Because utility poles were burning near the blaze, Public Service Electric & Gas Co. cut off electrical power to the area.

The chief said as of 10:20 the owner of the company had not arrived at the fire scene. The exact name of his company was unclear last night.

from the Home News Tribune Published: March 26, 2002