By Cindy Merckx/Sentinel of Gloucester County Editor
Photograph by Sam Gorrell
Franklin Township Fire Departments were on the scene of huge fire that closed a portion of Route 40 (Harding Highway) for several hours on Thursday morning, January 23rd. A huge plume of black smoke could be seen for miles coming from the JC Pool Company that was manufacturing and selling fiberglass pools at a ten acre site. Residents and businesses near the area heard a loud bang around 9:30 a.m. and saw fire and smoke coming from several buildings.
Fire trucks and emergency vehicles arrived from nearby towns while Franklin Township Police Chief Matthew Decesari had his officers go door to door to begin evacuating nearby homes and businesses due to the heavy smoke conditions in the area. Main Road Elementary School and Our Lady of Mercy Academy students and staff also had to be evacuated. Gloucester County hazmat crews were conducting air quality testing throughout the day as concern of burning of fiberglass and other chemicals that were stored in the buildings may have traveled in the air for several hours. Air testing was performed within a one mile radius of the fire. The fire companies cleared the scene and reopened Route 40 around 6 p.m. however had to return the next morning to put out some hot spots.
The Township of Franklin has been at odds with the Pool Company and in court after the Zoning Board denied their application in 2023. This parcel is located within the Pinelands Highway Commercial zone where manufacturing of pools and outdoor storage is not a permitted use. Several vegetable farmers in the area had testified at the Township Zoning Board public hearing in October 2023 and stated that they would not be able to farm their land with this type of fiberglass manufacturing in the agriculture zone. The pool company decided to operate without a CO after being ordered to vacate the property by January 1st, 2025 and according to the Township administrator, the Township was in court several times and again on the day before the fire happened. The fire is presently under investigation
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