Lightning may have been the cause
A dozen fire companies battled a structure fire at Girl Scout Camp DeWitt on 605 Montgomery Road that was reported at 8:14 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13.
Police officers found heavy smoke in the unoccupied main lodge of the building. No injuries were reported.
Township Fire Marshall Christopher Weniger said Tuesday it appeared the fire was caused by lightning. An alarm system triggered the call to 9-1-1.
The blaze was brought under control by fire units, but the building was destroyed, according to police.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 908-369-4323, ext. 8, or email tips@hillsboroughpolice.org.
Snow, rain, lightning and thunder combined with the remote location to stymie fire-fighting efforts. Fire crews had difficulty getting apparatus to the scene due to snow on the half-mile-long driveway leading to the camp. Fire crews and the township public works department helped plow the access road.
Hillsborough’s fire tanker task force was put into effect, since there are no hydrants in the area. Tankers were sent in one by one to supply water to the Flagtown ladder truck and hand lines that were in operation. Units were on scene for about three hours. A Flagtown tanker 36 extinguished “hot spots” the next morning.
Responding were the four fire companies covering Hillsborough, as well as companies from Green Knoll, Griggstown, Montgomery No. 1, Readington, Hopewell, Pennington, South Middlebush and Raritan Township.
Hillsborough rescue squad, emergency management and fire safety officials were at the scene.
The scene is under investigation by the township’s fire safety office.