Wildfire Near West Deptford Refinery Burns 160 Acres, No Structures Lost

Smoke from a wildfire near the former Eagle Point Refinery in West Deptford rose high enough to be seen from Interstate 95, Philadelphia and Citizens Bank Park, a sharp reminder for South Jersey that spring fire danger can spread fast. The blaze was first reported around 11 a.m. on April 11 near Red Bank Avenue and Hessian Avenue, and it burned about 160 acres before crews had it fully contained by around 6 p.m. No structures were destroyed.

Officials initially issued voluntary evacuations for roughly 60 threatened structures, but no mandatory evacuations were ordered. Red Bank Avenue was closed between Hessian Avenue and the Delaware River during the response and later reopened as firefighters worked the perimeter and kept the fire from moving into nearby homes or businesses.

The response drew multiple agencies, including the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, New Jersey State Police, Gloucester County Emergency Management and Gloucester County Emergency Response. Fire boats from both sides of the Delaware River also helped contain the blaze, a sign of how seriously crews treated the fire’s location along a heavily developed, industrial corridor.

The cause remains under investigation. Smoke plumes and ash were reported as far south and east as Glassboro and Washington Township, underscoring how far a fast-moving brush fire can travel on a windy day. The fire’s proximity to the former Sunoco and Eagle Point Refinery property also highlighted the added risk that comes when dry vegetation meets roads, riverfront access and dense development.

State officials say New Jersey averages about 1,100 wildfires and 5,000 acres burned each year, and the New Jersey Forest Fire Service has been protecting life, property and natural resources since 1906. Peak wildfire season typically runs from mid-March through mid-May, and the Department of Environmental Protection has already issued Stage 3 fire restrictions amid extremely dry conditions, with winds over 20 mph and very low humidity raising concern about rapid spread.

For Cumberland County residents, the practical takeaway is simple: check current burn restrictions before lighting anything outdoors, because the same dry, windy conditions that fed this fire can turn a small spark into a much larger emergency.