Niagara Falls firefighters have turned over the scene of an industrial fire and explosion to workers at the Americarb facility in the 6100 block of Niagara Falls Boulevard.
The workers are reportedly standing watch over a furnace that caught fire, causing an explosion on Saturday night. Firefighters responded to the facility at about 9 p.m. after reports from the scene of an explosion and a wall collapse.
Niagara Falls Boulevard, near the I-190 overpass, was closed to traffic in both directions.
No determination has been made as to what caused the fire in the furnace or the explosion that followed. Investigators believe a “malfunction” in the furnace sparked the blaze.
Firefighters said they were unable to put water on the furnace over fears of triggering a second explosion, so they extinguished burning materials around it and kept a watch as power to the furnace was shut down to allow for the interior fire to burn out.
The owner of the facility told firefighters a furnace needed to cool down before the fire could be fully extinguished and the process could take up to 12 hours.
Monday, city fire officials said it will take more time for the fire in the furnace to completely burn out. Firefighters said that as the furnace continues to cool, it will eventually be able to be repaired or replaced.
There’s no estimate of damage. A portion of a wall of the facility could be seen ripped open following the fire.