Overnight Fire Strikes Absecon Mills

Multiple fire and police departments battled a fire at Absecon Mills on Aloe Street in Galloway Township Sunday night.

Absecon Mills, a factory that opened in 1978, was closed Sunday night. No injuries were reported around 11:30 p.m.

Aloe Street was closed in both directions as the smoke streaming from the building intensified, overtaking the previously clear sky.

"There were firewalls inside that did their job and helped us contain the fire," said Garbutt, who added he was unsure of the cause of the fire just before 11:30 p.m. "(The firewalls) gave us a chance to save the building."

Departments battling the fire included Galloway, Absecon, Pomona, South Egg Harbor, Cologne, Hammonton, Bayview, Germania, Laureldale, Oceanville and tankers from four counties, including Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland and Ocean. The departments reported to the scene just after 7 p.m.

"The fire was already through the roof," Garbutt said. "After about 15 or 20 minutes, the walls began to collapse, and 10 minutes later, the whole roof fell in."

According to a store employee on the scene, the area that was been consumed by the blaze was the loading and shipping dock, while the area reserved for weaving and receiving appears unaffected.