Belleville lifts emergency restrictions as students resume in‑person classes
Drone 12 video shows the fire-damaged warehouse reduced to rubble, with most of the demolition now complete.
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Students in Belleville are back in class after a massive warehouse fire forced schools into remote learning.
Drone 12 video shows the fire-damaged warehouse reduced to rubble, with most of the demolition now complete.
The building, destroyed by flames more than a week ago, is now cleared as crews prepare to remove what remains.
Mayor Michael Melham said the local state of emergency has been lifted.
He said a letter to Gov. Mikie Sherrill asking for a state emergency declaration will be hand-delivered to the governor’s office.
If approved, Melham said the declaration would help provide state financial aid to the township.
The funding could also assist businesses and homeowners directly affected by the fire, he said.
Melham also said about three million gallons of water were used from neighboring Nutley to fight the fire.
He said Nutley is expected to seek reimbursement for that water, which was tracked through a meter.
Environmental testing is expected to begin soon, now that demolition is complete.
The state Department of Environmental Protection will handle that testing.
Melham said the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is still leading the investigation into the cause of the fire.
He said that while video shows the moments when the fire started, investigators are still working to determine exactly how it began.
