Fire Departments Subdue Truck Fire In Cherry Hill

CHERRY HILL, NJ — A mechanical failure caused a Waste Management recycling truck to catch fire on Marlkress Road Monday morning, according to the Cherry Hill Fire Department. No one was injured in the fire, and there was no permanent damage done to the nearby Kitchen Kapers.

The truck was picking up cardboard from Kitchen Kapers when it caught fire, according to Assistant Fire Chief Chris Callahan. The main concern was that the truck runs on compressed natural gas, and that the tanks ruptured, Callahan said.

However, responding fire companies acted quickly. They set up hose lines to protect the building while they put out the fire, Callahan said. The fire was brought under control in about 40 minutes. From there, firefighters on the scene worked with the company and its contractors to get the back of the truck open to put out the fire that was impacting the cardboard inside the truck.

In all, Marlkress Road was closed for about five hours. It was closed in both directions from Route 70 to Kresson Road, according to alerts sent out by the fire department and the Cherry Hill Police Department earlier in the day. It was closed to all traffic between Lucerne Drive and Europa Boulevard/Versailles Court.

All neighborhoods south of the incident (Lucerne, Charleston Riding, SE Gate/NE Gate Dr, Leith Hill, etc) had access using Kresson Road. All neighborhoods north of the incident (Versailles/Europa, Sergi Farms, US Post Office, CHT DPW, etc.) had access from Route 70.

All six Cherry Hill fire companies responded to the scene, as did the police department and fire departments from Mt. Ephraim, Westmont, Somerdale and Mt. Laurel. The Camden County Office of Emergency Management and the Camden County Department of Health also responded to the scene.

The Haddonfield, Bellmawr and Pennsauken fire departments covered calls for Cherry Hill while they were out on the call.

Attached image via Cherry Hill Fire Department