Fire at N.J. Recycling Company Injures Two

March 28--VINELAND -- City officials said they're investigating the cause of a recycling company fire that injured two people Wednesday morning.

Initial reports indicate the blaze at Giordano's on Mill Road near West Landis Avenue here started while a worker was cutting a cylinder tank, Fire Chief Robert Pagnini said.

The tank was likely still under pressure during the cutting process, he said. The fire began after the material left the tank, he said.

Pagnini said the investigation will determine just what happened.

City Emergency Medical Services Chief Al Lincks said two people were injured as a result of the accident. One person was treated on the scene, while the other was taken to South Jersey Healthcare Regional Medical Center here, he said.

Pagnini said the person taken to the hospital was the worker who was cutting the tank. The other injured person is also believed to a worker at Giordano's, he said.

The names of the workers and the extent of their injuries wasn't available.

Pagnini said city firefighters got the call about the blaze at 9:39 a.m. The fire was under control at 10:23 a.m., he said.

Workers on the scene were using a claw-type crane to move recycling materials in the area around where the fire started, he said. That allowed firefighters to douse the area to prevent any possible later flare-ups, he said.

Authorities block off Mill Road for several hours while firefighters and rescue staff were on the scene.

The scene was cleared by about noon.

Copyright 2012 - The Press of Atlantic City, Pleasantville, N.J.