May 30th, 2024
Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
A large, abandoned warehouse for sale caught fire on Thursday evening, March 7th, in Williamston, NJ. The commercial building set off multiple alarms for the Gloucester County first responders. Bystanders say the sky was bright orange, and debris was flying in all directions. Sykes Lane stands in a rural area without nearby fire hydrants. Firefighters requested tankers to come in and assist. The fire burned the 93,000 sq. ft. warehouse for hours before firefighters fully extinguished it the following day. The team had to set up four ladder pipes and use assistance from a filling company down the street.
The county will complete a full investigation and hopes to learn what set off the blaze. No injuries were reported. The building had been vacant for years and was for sale. The owners are Hellenic Gyro and Pita LLC in North Jersey. Residents worry about the mystery debris that fell on their homes and property. The Environmental Protection Agency tested and cleared the debris to be safe for residents to discard, as it was only burnt foam insulation. They tested the air quality, which then returned to normal. The shell of the building eventually was torn down.
Risk Logic Inc. has many articles on abandoned warehouses and how to protect your building when no longer occupied. Please read the following articles if you have a vacant or abandoned warehouse. RLI engineers can conduct loss prevention surveys and offer recommendations to ensure the safety of your facility. Please contact us for more information or if you have questions.  
