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| Big Fire Destroys Businesses Investigators are trying to figure out what started a five-alarm fire that destroyed three businesses in Oaklyn.
Flames could be seen shooting into the air Sunday night as the blaze destroyed a building on West Clinton Avenue.
Gasoline from the repair shops complicated the firefighters' efforts, but they managed to keep the blaze from spreading to nearby homes.
On Monday, most of the debris was twisted charred, and several hot spots flared up.
"We all watched it being built. We all worked here at one time or another," said Linda Bach, the daughter of the building's owner.
The building has been in Bach's family for 50 years. It housed a plumbing supply company and was subsequently turned into a vending warehouse, a wheelchair supply store and an auto repair shop.
Firefighters continued to extinguish flames Monday that were fueled by fresh air as the building was torn down.
The five-alarm fire brought out fire departments from all over Camden County. Investigators said that they think the blaze began in the auto repair shop, but that it would be some time before they can figure out why.
"The most important thing is for the fire marshal to do their job for us, to make sure the fire is out," said Chief Mark Quinter of the Oaklyn Fire Department.
Bach said her family members were counting their blessings. She said that her brother was going to stop by the building about the time the fire broke out,but, at the last minute, he changed his mind.
"He would have been in there and tried to put it out," Bach said.
Some City Council members are suspicious about the fire, they told NBC 10, because the body shop was being forced to closed over zoning issues.
Investigators said it is too early to determine the fire's cause.
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