
Fire at pool factory forces evacuation of two NJ schools
🔥Fire broke out Thursday morning at a facility that makes swimming pools on Rt.40
🔥Students were evacuated from two schools
🔥Temperatures were in the 20s
FRANKLIN (Gloucester) — Hundreds of students from two schools were moved to a different location following a fire at a nearby warehouse Thursday morning.
Video showed the fire at the North East Pool Distributors on Harding Highway (Route 40) sending thick black smoke in the air. Three trailers from trucks were parked in front of the building and appear to also have burned. Temperatures were in the single digits at the time of the fire, according to Chief Meteorologist Dan Zarrow.
The Gloucester County Hazmat team determined resin and a chemical called Clear Catalyst used to make pool shells was stored at the facility, according to the Gloucester County Office of Emergency Management. As a precaution all buildings within a mile of the facility were evacuated.
Students from the Main Road School were moved to the Reutter School. Students at Our Lady of Mercy Academy were moved to the St. Augustine Preparatory School in the Richland section of Franklin Township.
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Hazmat team on location
The Gloucester and Camden County hazmat teams monitored air quality at the scene. Readings were taken every 10 minutes and came negative. No elevated levels of toxins were discovered.
Salt trucks were brought in to treat icy buildup, according to NJ.com.
This is a breaking story. Check back for additional details.
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