Lightning Strike May Have Caused Fire at Our Lady of Hope School in Gloucester Township

A fire at Our Lady of Hope Elementary School may have been caused by a lightning strike, Gloucester Township Police said.

Students at the school were evacuated early Tuesday morning following a small fire in the building. All students and staff have since returned to the building. No one was injured.

Investigators discovered some smoldering damage contained to the outside of the school, leading them to believe lightning may have caused the fire.

Police responded to the school, located at 420 South Black Horse Pike around 7:26 a.m. for a report of light smoke in the building, caused by the fire.

Those already in the school were evacuated, and arriving students were taken to a nearby building that was not affected by the fire.

The Black Horse Pike was closed between Cressmont and Grant for about 30 minutes during the incident.

Fire department personnel from Blackwood, Chews Landing, Blenheim, Lambs Terrace, Erial, Deptford, and Pine Hill investigated the incident.

Also assisting were Camden County Communications, Gloucester Township E.M.S. Alliance and the Gloucester Township Office of Emergency Management.