Sunday, August 7, 2016

Roofing contractors cause fire at the roof of building under innovation in Pennsauken, NJ






A firefighter was injured battling a blaze at a business in Pennsauken. (WPVI)

Saturday, August 06, 2016 08:07PM
PENNSAUKEN, N.J. (WPVI) -- A firefighter was injured battling a blaze at a business in Pennsauken, New Jersey.

The fire broke out before 1:15 p.m. Saturday at 825 Hylton Road.

Viewer video shows a thick plume of smoke billowing high into the air.

"The first units arriving reported fire visible from roof," said Chief Joseph Palumbo of the Pennsauken Fire Dept.

Firefighters had it under control within 30 minutes, containing the damage to the roof.

The bigger challenge for crews, the chief says, was the weather.

"The humidity proved to be a little more difficult than fire today. So we had to rotate some special companies for additional manpower," Chief Palumbo said.

Roofing contractors had been working on the building, which is being turned into a steel manufacturing plant called Innovaire.

It's unclear if the roofers who had just left accidentally sparked the blaze.  Most likely the roofing material caught fire from a roofer's propane blow torch.

The building's owner said there was some smoke and water damage, but nothing that will significantly impact renovations.