STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. (From news reports) -- Nearly 200 emergency responders battled what officials described as a deep-seated blaze three-alarm fire at a paper recycling facility on Victory Boulevard for more than 12 hours Thursday, officials said.

The fire broke out at Pratt Industries paper recycling facility located at 4435 Victory Blvd. in Travis around 9:30 a.m. May 7. Firefighters arrived to find heavy flames coming from the large paper recycling plant.

The blaze escalated to a third alarm by 11:37 a.m. as crews struggled to contain the fire. A total of 63 units and 192 fire and EMS personnel responded to the scene.

The fire quickly escalated from the initial response. Fire officials described the blaze as particularly challenging to extinguish.

"The fire rapidly spread to three alarms," Chief David Simms, Staten Island Borough Commander, said. "This was a very deep seated and large fire."

The scale of the firefighting operation was significant. Crews deployed an extensive array of equipment to bring the blaze under control.

"It took approximately six hand lines, one tower ladder and three deluge guns and two major appliances to extinguish this fire," according to Simms.

The fire was brought under control at 9:54 p.m.

One firefighter sustained a minor injury during operations and was transported to an area hospital. All plant personnel were accounted for, Simms confirmed.

A watch line will remain at the scene due to the amount of combustible materials on site, fire officials said.

The cause of the fire remains undetermined. A spokesperson for Pratt Industries did not provide information about potential damage to the facility or financial losses.

Previously, a spokesperson for Pratt said the facility was undergoing a scheduled 12-hour maintenance shutdown when the fire began. During repair work, a spark from welding equipment may have ignited nearby paper materials. The flames spread quickly, prompting an immediate call to the fire department.