Officials in Franklin Township, New Jersey are telling locals that the nearby wildfire that’s been burning since Thursday isn’t like a natural, smoky-scented wildfire that you associate with tinder-dry outdoors but more like a toxic waste-hazardous superfund kind of fire, NJ.com reports.
Residents in the area of the former Pioneer electroplating facility/current superfund site have been advised to do their best to seal windows and doors to keep smoke out of their home, as well set their air conditioning units to recirculate air rather than pulling air from outside. Using HEPA-grade air filters and ventilating homes when the fire’s finally out can also help avoid the toxicity.
That part seems rather aspirational considering it’s now almost a week that this fire’s been burning.