Massive Fire Damages Western New York Paper Plants

Investigators are trying to determine the cause of a stubborn fire that burned through stacks of paper products at neighboring western New York industries.

Fire officials tell local media that the blaze was reported around 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the Greenpac and Norampac plants in the city of Niagara Falls.

High winds fanned the flames that quickly spread among bales of cardboard stacked up to 25 feet high and covering a large area. At one point, the flames shot hundreds of feet into the air, sending up a smoke plume that was visible on weather radar screens.

Dozens of firefighters worked into Sunday to control the blaze, which flared up again later in the day. Firefighters remained at the scene into Monday morning to make sure it didn’t re-ignite.

No serious injuries were reported.