Firefighters Extinguish Basement Appliance Fire with Minimal Damage on Woodbine Avenue

Westville, NJ - Firefighters from the Westville Fire Department and surrounding mutual aid companies mitigated a basement dwelling fire involving a burning appliance Sunday afternoon on Woodbine Avenue in Gloucester County.

Emergency communications dispatched Taskforce 7 at 4:22 p.m. on Sunday, October 25, 2026, after a neighbor observed smoke emerging from the basement of an adjacent residence on Woodbine Avenue and dialed 911.

Westville Chief 701 (WV 701) arrived on scene to find a two-story, single-family home with nothing visible from the front exterior, though an audible smoke alarm could be heard sounding inside. During an initial 360-degree perimeter assessment, Chief 701 located smoke emitting from an exterior basement entrance located in Division C (rear of the structure).

Operational command assignments were established with West Deptford Chief 6 (WD Chief 6) directing operations, supported by division officers from Westville (WV 702), National Park (NP Battalion 803), and Gloucester City (GC 5). Additional apparatus on scene included Engines 733, 812, and 6; Ladders 736 and 6; and Quint 5.

Crews advanced quickly into the lower level, with West Deptford Engine 6 stretching an 1¾-inch attack line to suppress an active appliance fire while Westville Engine 733 secured the primary water supply. Ladder companies initiated natural and mechanical ventilation to clear residual smoke from the structure.

Emergency medical personnel conducted clinical evaluations on scene for the home's occupants, though no individuals required hospital transport. Officials reported minimal structural damage, and the origin and cause of the appliance fire remain under investigation by the Westville Fire Marshal's Office.