What Was The Early Morning Glow Over Union County?

Officials say a mysterious glow that lit up the sky over parts of Union County  early Sunday morning was
nothing to be concerned about.

Police in several Union County towns received numerous 911 calls reporting the strange bright glow, which was visible for several hours before it disappeared.

Many residents feared it was the result of a major fire, an explosion — or maybe even extra-terrestrials.

But Elizabeth police tell The Star-Ledger of Newark that the Bayway  ConocoPhillips refinery in nearby Linden was releasing excess gas, which burned bright against the foggy night sky.

ConocoPhillips says the Bayway refinery  is the second largest refinery on the East Coast and the fifteenth largest in the United States. It was built by John D. Rockefeller in 1908.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)