Four members of the American Legion Ambulance Association in Woodstown escaped unhurt Monday after an early morning blaze devastated their squad building and caused at least $2 million in damage.

The blaze broke out around 4 a.m. and destroyed five ambulances and caused significant damage to a sixth, officials said.

Firefighters, some of whom arrived to the scene on Maple Court within three minutes of the blaze being reported, found heavy flames on the right side of the building, Reliance Fire Company Chief Jeff Bowling said.

Four ambulance association employees were on duty in the building when the fire broke out.

Oxygen tanks mounted in the ambulances exploded as the blaze intensified. Firefighters were able to remove several other oxygen tanks from the building before they were consumed.

The cause of the blaze remains under investigation by the state fire marshal's office.

Daybreak illuminated a somber scene on Maple Court. Investigators sifted through rubble as smoke continued to drift from the shell of squad building.

The smoldering skeletons of four ambulances sat in their bays, while two others were parked next to the building. One of them was brand new, ambulance association president Joe Valentine said.

Valentine got the call around 4 a.m. and hurried to the scene.

"I came around the corner and saw flames shooting out of one end of the building," he recalled. "We're thankful that the crews got out."

One of the squad members on duty is also a firefighter and smelled smoke. He went to investigate, found the fire, and helped evacuate his colleagues, Valentine said.

Just hours after the flames were doused, the squad was already focused on resuming its mission.

"We're just starting the process now of getting things back in service," Valentine said, crediting neighboring communities for lending a hand.

"We just had an ambulance delivered to us now," he said. "We're happy that our 911 services are online."

Bowling said Reliance has offered its services to help house vehicles and assist the association in any way possible.

The association was founded in 1954 by American Legion members.

"They started this organization as a volunteer ambulance and rescue squad," Valentine said.

The squad moved its operations to the Maple Court location in 1964. With rising demands for service and a decline in volunteers, the association began paying some members in 2014. The non-profit association currently employs 47 EMTs.

The organization is now looking to the future.

"We're gonna see what the insurance company says," Valentine said, looking over the charred remains of the squad building. "We've got to get this thing rebuilt and get the job done that we're here to do."

Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us: nj.com/tips.