Video: Crews Fight Blaze from Exploding NJ Asphalt Tank
By Anthony G. Attrino
Source NJ Advance Media Group, Edison, N.J.
An asphalt tank exploded and erupted in flames early Tuesday in Camden County, shaking up a neighborhood and forcing families to flee their homes, authorities said.
Police began receiving 9-1-1 calls about 12:49 a.m. from people living near the Blueknight Energy Partners in the 200 block of Water Street in Gloucester City, according to the county’s Office of Emergency Management.
The tank, which is used for asphalt emulsion, caught fire and exploded, the county said in a statement. The tank was in use when the incident occurred, officials said.
Neighbors told 6abc.com they woke up to a loud bang and that their homes shook. hazmat workers, members of the Camden County Foam Task Force and several area fire departments were quickly on the scene.
Firefighters fought the blaze until about 4 a.m. and 6abc.com news video showed the top portion of the tank had melted.
Just before sunrise, fire officials reported most of the fire had been extinguished and that there was no damage to surrounding homes or other parts of the city.
Blueknight officials told fire investigators it was possible that vapors ignited in one of the holding tanks, causing an explosion near the top of the structure.
As a precaution, homes were evacuated from both sides of Jersey Street to 4th Street and residents were told to shelter at a Knights of Columbus of at the Gloucester Heights Community Center, the county’s OEM said.
The Red Cross of New Jersey was also standing by to help. The incident remains under investigation, county officials said.
———
©2020 NJ Advance Media Group, Edison, N.J.
Visit NJ Advance Media Group, Edison, N.J. at www.nj.com
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
