Authorities investigate fire at Woodbury Hts. firehouse

Federal and Gloucester County authorities were trying to determine the cause of a blaze early Friday that seriously damaged the firehouse of the Woodbury Heights Fire Company.

Material from the building in the 500 block of Elm Avenue was being tested in a laboratory of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, a facility often used by the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office to analyze fire scenes.

The fire was reported by a resident in a 911 call at 5:38 a.m., authorities said. Personnel and equipment from Wenonah, Woodbury, Deptford, and West Deptford fire companies quickly responded to the blaze.

At the same time, police diverted traffic on Woodbury-Glassboro Road, near the burning firehouse.

Early efforts to battle the fire were hampered because a nearby hydrant was dry, authorities said.

One firefighter was taken to a local hospital, where he was treated for smoke inhalation and released.

The blaze was declared under control by 7 a.m., and Woodbury-Glassboro Road was reopened about 1:30 p.m., officials said.

A section of the firehouse containing a bar, a meeting room used for comedy club fund-raising events, and offices was extensively damaged. It was demolished Friday afternoon.

A three-bay garage housing fire trucks was not damaged, authorities said.