The fire broke out shortly before 7:30 p.m. Wednesday inside the International Matex Tank Terminal, a 520-acre facility near the Bayonne Bridge. The Bayonne facility has hundreds of tanks handling petroleum and specialty chemicals.
Heavy smoke was visible over a wide area, but the fire appeared to be confined to a small area of the plant. Bayonne police say they believe it was an electrical fire. An electric cogenerating station is on the property.
There was no immediate word on injuries or damage.
At 8:30 p.m., scanner traffic indicated that police were reopening the Bayonne Bridge and busy Route 440, which had been closed shortly after the fire broke out.
