UPDATE: The Delanco police chief said the air quality around the warehouse has improved, due to decreased smoke.



DELANCO — An 11-alarm fire that destroyed a Dietz and Watson warehouse and distribution plant in Burlington County over the weekend will likely continue to smolder for several days, officials said.

Residents are warned to stay inside as much as possible, because of air-quality concerns from the massive amount of smoke in the area, those officials said.

Dozens of local firefighters battled the blaze for more than a day, after the fire started about 1:30 p.m. Sunday. It was contained about 5:40 p.m. on Monday, said Chief Jesse DeSanto of the Delanco police department.

Water-supply issues and the threat of electrocution from thousands of solar panels on the Cooperstown Road building’s roof hampered firefighters, officials said.

Firefighters hose down a mound of turkeys at the Dietz and Watson plant this morning, as the huge warehouse fire continues to smolder.

The town’s office of emergency management still has a warning posted online cautioning residents to avoid being outside - though DeSanto said air quality has improved since the fire was brought control.

Fire engines are still pouring water on parts of the five-story building this morning - including a swath of the northern side of the building, where a mound of turkeys has been incinerated.

The smell of burning meat is still heavy in the area, an eyewitness said this morning.

Dietz and Watson said no employees were hurt during the fire – and they thanked local firefighters’ efforts on the company’s Facebook page.

“We’re a family company, and we will come out of this stronger and closer than ever,” the company said. “We’re happy to report that the fire is now contained.

“Our production facilities continue to manufacture our premium meats and cheeses. Other distribution arrangements will be made as we assess the fire's damage,” the company added on their website.

The 300,000-square-foot facility was just a distribution plant - and the company's supply chain won't be affected in the long term, said Steve Riley, a company spokesman.

"It basically just holds inventory," he said. "We still have manufacturing facilities up and running. We should be fine."

The company does not yet have a total cost of the damage - but Riley said the whole facility is likely a loss.

In 2010, the company installed some 7,000 solar power modules at the Delanco facility - which can pose problems for firefighting efforts, according to a report on NBC-10 Philadelphia.

The Philadelphia-based company was founded in 1939, and is in its third generation in the same family, according to the Facebook page.

There were three minor injuries to firefighters during the fire - including a broken ankle, DeSanto said.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, the police chief added.

Star-Ledger staff photographer Tony Kurdzuk and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

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