Hot spots still burn days after warehouse fire in Belleville, N.J. scorches several buildings

Firefighters were still working to put out hot spots at a burnt-out industrial complex in Belleville, New Jersey, on Wednesday, three days after a massive fire.

The weekend blaze at a mattress factory on Cortlandt Street scorched an entire block and is still causing problems across the community.

Schools will remain closed for the rest of the week and remote learning will begin on Thursday, Belleville Schools Superintendent Dr. Erick Alfonso said Wednesday afternoon.

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Dozens of people remain displaced. Many others were forced out because water and gas were shut off so demolition could start, Mayor Michael Melham said.

Air quality concerns

Smoke continued to linger Wednesday, worrying residents.

"It's bad. Two days, it's bad. Even in the house," one resident said. "My kids, we send them far." 

The air quality was also hazardous Tuesday as smoke could still be seen coming from the impacted buildings.  

The Department of Environmental Protection will begin air quality testing Thursday. Officials are waiting until rain moves through Wednesday. 

Melham said initial testing showed normal oxygen levels.

"I just want to go home right now"

One woman and her son haven't been able to go back to their home since Sunday.   

"I just want to go home right now, but I can't because of hazardous conditions," she said.

"I mean, who knows when we can come back. It's horrible, rough, but I am pretty sure we are going to get through it," resident Mike Scruggs added.

Nearby hair salon owner Henry Reyes said despite closing for a few days, he is staying put at his business. He has a view of the smoldering debris from his back window.

"I started seeing people look over there and [I] look back and see a ball of black smoke and I was like what is happening," Reyes said. "We don't have reliable clients coming in. We don't have customers that know us. We are brand new, so just keeping open is important for us to have people see our salon."

Residents lose their homes in 14-alarm fire

About 50 people total have been displaced. The Red Cross is helping eight people whose homes caught fire after embers from the blaze landed on their roofs.

Melham said the blaze was likely caused by welding work inside the factory. A worker could be seen trying to put out the flames. Officials said there were a lot of flammable materials inside, including foam, fabric, helium tanks and cardboard.