Lingering smoke from a fire that broke out following an explosion at an auto body shop in Hillside on Tuesday night has affected the air quality in town, the mayor said Wednesday morning.

“It’s not like it was when we had (smoky conditions from) the big forest fires (in Canada) where it was almost unbearable, but it is definitely very uncomfortable,” Mayor Dahlia Vertreese said by phone. “If you don’t have to leave, try to stay indoors, keep your windows closed, take air conditioners out.

“Just try to preserve the oxygen in your house and use your own discretion if you need to wear oxygen masks or whatever you need to do to protect yourself, because it can definitely be an irritant.”

Firefighters are still on the scene of the fire on the 1500 block of Maple Avenue on Wednesday morning

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