Firefighters Battle Blaze At Our Lady Of Hope School: GTPD

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ - Firefighters were able to quickly subdue a fire that broke out at a Gloucester Township private school that was nearly empty due to a delayed opening Friday morning.

A maintenance worker reported that heavy smoke was coming out of the roof of Our Lady of Hope Regional School just before 8 a.m. Friday morning, according to the Gloucester Township Police Department.

Arriving officers saw heavy smoke coming from the roof and soffit areas of the special classes building (Art, Library, Science and Computer Lab), police said.

Gloucester Township Fire Units and Gloucester Township EMS Units responded to the scene. Fire Units confirmed an active fire in the ceiling/roof of the building. The fire was quickly placed under control and did not damage the entire building, according to the police department.

Gloucester Township OEM also responded. No students or staff were in the building because the school was operating on a delayed schedule due to the snow that fell on the region Friday morning, police said.

The Black Horse Pike was temporarily closed between Davistown Road and Church Street during the fire, police said. The fire is under investigation by the Blackwood Fire Marshal and the Camden County Fire Marshal's Office.

Our Lady of Hope is a K-8 private school located in the Blackwood section of the township. Police remind residents to check their fire suppression systems and alert / audible alarm systems to ensure they are operational.

"Smoke alarms are a key part of any fire escape plan," police said. "When there is smoke, there is fire which can spread quickly. Working smoke alarms give you early warning, so you can get outside quickly."