
Matt Gray
nj.com
(TNS)
A massive fire at a swimming pool manufacturer in Gloucester County prompted two schools to evacuate hundreds of students on Thursday morning.
The blaze at North East Pool Builders on the 800 block Harding Highway/Route 40 in Franklin Township was under control, fire officials said shortly before noon.
Emergency responders converged on the site around 9:30 a.m. for a report of heavy fire on the property.
Students at the Main Road School, which includes about 400 students in grades 3 and 4, were relocated to Reutter School as a precaution, police said in a Facebook post.
Students at Our Lady of Mercy Academy on Main Road were also evacuated, as were occupants of homes or businesses within a one-mile radius of the blaze, a fire official at the scene said.
Social media posts showed a large plume of dark smoke billowing from the fire.
A sign outside of the business identified it as a manufacturer and distributor of one-piece fiberglass swimming pools.
A representative answering a phone number for the pool business late Thursday morning said he was out of state and had no information about the blaze.
Multiple area fire departments and the county hazmat team were on the scene.
Firefighters had to contend with freezing conditions at the scene and a salt truck was brought in to treat ice buildup on the driveway and parking lot at the business.
Video from 6abc’s helicopter showed crews battling the blaze.
Officials with the state Department of Environmental Protection responded to the scene and air monitoring was being conducted by hazmat and other responders, according to Gloucester County Emergency Management.
Route 40 remained closed from Main Road to Blue Bell Road as work at the fire scene continued into the afternoon.
Photographer Dave Hernandez contributed to this report.
Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.
Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com.
©2025 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit nj.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.