Flames emanating from the engine of an in-operation propane-powered Clark CMC18 forklift posed a major hazard in a Holmdel perfume-filling facility and warehouse.

The Custom Essence LLC site bottles, packages, stores and ships the perfumes.

The operator and others attempted to suppress the fire on the morning of 5 July but quickly called for emergency responders. Several local agencies sent forces.

Within about 45 minutes, the fire fighters successfully contained the blaze, which caused localised damage in the potentially volatile environment with boxes of alcohol-based products. A hole was cut in the 25 ft. (7.5 m) -high ceiling, which the flames reached, to release the heavy smoke.

The heat of the fire caused a leak in the forklift's fuel tank, releasing propane that was ignited. The tank did not explode. Ceiling sprinklers were activated and, along with water from fire departments' hoses, led to wet conditions throughout the entire warehouse.

The forklift operator "was in the middle of the aisles of the warehouse with a lot of combustible material around", says Eric Hernando, detective with the Holmdel police department. In addition to the packaged alcohol content, materials included cardboard cartons and pallets.

Regarding a cause of the fire, accidental was the preliminary finding of the Monmouth County fire marshal's office in Freehold, New Jersey. An investigation continues.

The forklift was valued at USD5,000.

The 500 employees on duty were safely evacuated. "They did not have to return to work that day," Hernando notes.