Congers, N.Y. — A fire and reported explosion at a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Congers prompted a large-scale emergency response Wednesday morning, temporarily forcing nearby residents to evacuate while hazardous materials specialists assessed the scene.
Emergency crews were dispatched shortly before 8:30 a.m. to the Vitane Pharmaceutical facility on Wells Avenue after receiving reports of smoke inside the building. Firefighters arriving at the scene encountered an active fire, and the incident escalated as part of the structure sustained significant damage, including an interior collapse, according to local officials.
Because the facility manufactures vitamins and dietary supplements, emergency responders requested assistance from hazardous materials teams to evaluate the potential risk posed by chemicals stored inside the building. Hazmat units from Rockland and Westchester counties conducted air-quality monitoring throughout the incident while firefighters worked to contain the fire.
Out of an abundance of caution, the Clarkstown Police Department advised residents and businesses in the immediate vicinity of Wells Avenue and Brenner Drive to evacuate during the emergency. Officials also designated the Congers Community Center as a temporary location for displaced residents. The evacuation advisory was lifted later in the day after air monitoring indicated conditions were safe for residents to return.
Authorities also urged motorists to avoid the area as firefighters, police officers, emergency medical personnel, utility crews, and specialized hazmat teams remained on scene. Electrical service to the surrounding industrial area was temporarily shut off, affecting several nearby businesses while emergency operations continued.
Video from the scene showed damage concentrated near the building’s entrance, with debris scattered outside the facility as firefighters continued suppression efforts. Multiple agencies remained at the location for several hours to extinguish remaining hot spots, monitor air quality, and ensure the structure was stable before investigators entered the building.
Officials reported that no employees or nearby residents were injured during the incident. One firefighter was treated for dehydration while operating at the scene and was expected to recover.
A spokesperson for Vitane Pharmaceutical said the company does not manufacture industrial or hazardous chemical products and that company officials are cooperating fully with investigators as they work to determine what caused the fire and reported explosion. The company added that it is conducting its own internal review of the incident.
As of Wednesday evening, the exact cause of the fire had not been determined. Fire investigators are expected to examine the damaged facility after it is deemed structurally safe to enter. Officials have not indicated whether the incident began with a fire that later caused an explosion or whether an explosion occurred first.
The response drew firefighters and emergency personnel from multiple departments across Rockland County, highlighting the coordinated regional approach used for industrial emergencies involving potential hazardous materials. Air monitoring continued throughout the incident to ensure there was no threat to surrounding neighborhoods.
Authorities have not released an estimate of the damage to the facility or a timeline for when operations at the manufacturing plant may resume. The investigation remains ongoing, and additional information is expected to be released as officials complete their assessment of the scene.