Star Candle factory catches fire in Ridgefield Park

The electrical panels for Star Candle could have sparked the two-alarm fire that broke out around 2:10 a.m. Monday, but fire officials couldn't say for sure.

Fire Capt. Jim Van Der Tulip said the solar panel system was involved in the fire but it was unknown whether that was the cause.

Star Candle was closed Monday, but employee Chaim Steinberg said the company fully expected to get back to work on Tuesday. The business employs 250 people and produces a number of kinds of candles.

When the call for the fire came in, Van Der Tulip said it was listed as being under Route 80 and he thought it would be about construction equipment. At the scene, firefighters saw the rear of the candle factory on fire, with electrical explosions going off and drums and pallets on fire.

Van Der Tulip said the firefighters had to find the best way to get to the back of the building.

Also, firefighters had to exercise caution when on the roof because of explosions with the solar panel lines and the panels on the roof. The tiles on the roof always remain charged, and if firefighters aren't careful, they can get zapped, Van Der Tulip said.

Most of the damage to the building was caused by what firefighters had to do to put out the blaze, and the solar panel system is in "pretty bad shape," Van Der Tulip said. The 6-foot-high panel box that houses the system will need to be replaced. Representatives of the solar company and electrical company were on scene, trying to get everything working again.

While the solar panel system is down, the company will work on its backup system through PSE&G, Steinberg said.

Bergen County Hazmat and the Department of Environmental Protection were called in because firefighters did not know what was in the drums. CSX trains were suspended for about two hours.

About 50 firefighters from Ridgefield Park and Bogota were at the scene, and Hackensack, Little Ferry and Teaneck covered the town. No injuries were reported, and the fire was under control by 4:30 a.m.

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