A fire broke out at a self-storage facility located in the vicinity of the Cape May County Municipal Utilities Authority Transfer Station on Shunpike Road in the Burleigh area of Middle Township around 9am on the morning of Wednesday, February 19. The exact cause of the fire is not known and will likely require some time to investigate, though it did appear to originate from within one of the units.

Black smoke from the blaze was visible throughout the region and was photographed from as far away as Rio Grande, Avalon, Strathmere, and even Rehoboth Beach in Delaware. Additionally, the smoke was being blown into Route 9 and the Garden State Parkway, causing slightly reduced visibility in affected areas. Several roads in the vicinity have also been closed leading to some traffic congestion.

Some video indicates the presence of fireworks, though it is not known if they were the cause of the fire or collateral damage. No injuries have been reported at this time.

UPDATE 2/19/25 1:06PM: The fire is now being reported as effectively contained following the response of at least 7 area fire departments. There are no reports of it having spread to the nearby forest or natural gas filling station. At least 50 of the facility’s storage units and their contents are estimated to be destroyed.

UPDATE 2/20/25 9:10AM: A statement released by the Middle Township Police on the afternoon of the 19th states that the fire was first observed at about 8:49am on the morning of the 19th in the form of smoke emerging from one of the units at Burleigh Storage. By the time the first officer arrived, several units had become fully engulfed in fire. One person was transported to Cooper Medical Center for smoke inhalation. They also state that the cause of the fire is being investigated by the Middle Township PD Major Crimes Unit, the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office, the Cape May County Fire Marshal’s Office, and the New Jersey State Fire Marshal’s Office. Assistance is also being provided by several local fire departments, first responders, and governmental agencies.

UPDATE 2/21/25 11:45AM: The Cape May County Herald reports that a Green Creek man was charged with starting the blaze. It is believed that he lit cardboard inside of a metal container in an attempt to warm himself while working inside his unit and that his fire quickly grew out of his control. He has been charged with third-degree arson and fourth-degree false reports to law enforcement and is being held in the Cape May County Correctional Center.

Fire in Burliegh Cape May county SNJ pic.twitter.com/jxvXqQpCzv

— Zeke Orzech (@Zeke_O) February 19, 2025

Storage units. Fireworks !! pic.twitter.com/bQfO3yECLZ

— Zeke Orzech (@Zeke_O) February 19, 2025