The Aug. 4 fire in Harrison Township was safely contained and there were no injuries.
An unoccupied office at the Harrison Township Wastewater Treatment Facility on Woodland Avenue caught fire on Aug. 4 and was brought under control by several area fire companies. There were no injuries.
Firefighters were called to the location at about 7 p.m. The fire’s cause has not been determined and it remains under investigation by the Gloucester County Fire Marshal’s Office.
While the exact extent of the damage is not yet known, Mayor Adam Wingate said the plant itself is still fully operational and that residents should not be impacted. He also cited the various fire companies who responded, from East Greenwich, Mantua, Glassboro, Woolwich, Pitman and the Reliance Fire Company in Woodstown.
“I want to personally thank the Harmony Fire Department and the neighboring fire departments for their swift, coordinated response,” he said. “Their training, dedication and expert execution not only extinguished the fire, but also helped salvage the facility’s contents.”
Wingate and other officials first heard of the fire at a committee meeting that evening, following a call taken by the township administrator. Small traces of smoke could be seen in the sky from the municipal building, where the session took place. It was abruptly adjourned during the privilege-of-the-floor portion, as a resident voiced concerns about a separate issue.
“The fire is more important than this,” the resident said.
Committeeman TJ Coakley spoke briefly with the man after adjournment so he could relay his statement to the committee at a later date.
Residents will be notified of more information as it comes in. The police and fire departments have yet to issue an official statement.
