Evacuated New Jersey Residents Return After Fire in Asphalt Tank

Firefighters were trying to determine what caused an asphalt tank fire early Tuesday that shook a neighborhood of homes and businesses and forced the evacuation of at least 30 families.

Neighbors of Blueknight Energy Partners said they were awakened by a bang and their homes shook around 2:45 a.m. Emergency officials soon ordered their evacuation.

“It’s very flammable. It could have exposed the other tanks, which are also filled. And there was plenty of wood frame dwellings nearby that are filled with residents,” fire battalion chief Desmond Chiodi told WPVI-TV.

Firefighters used foam to control the flames and residents were allowed to return about four hours later.

No injuries were reported.

Firefighters would remain on the scene throughout the day to extinguish the blaze and to search for clues to determine what started the fire.