Fire destroyed a family-owned lumber yard in South Jersey that's been a part of the community for more than 70 years.
Firefighters -- 200 in number -- responded to Colucci Lumber, on Delsea Drive near New Road in Malaga, Gloucester County, about 2 p.m. Sunday.
The fire quickly reached three alarms with crews hampered by the heat, low water pressure and a windy day, according to Malaga Fire Chief Anthony Baldosaro. With no fire hydrants in the area, tankers had to bring water in from a nearby lake.
Branden Colucci, whose father and uncles run the business, sat in his car and cried.
"This business has been here since 1945 when my grandfather built it," said Colucci. "I already did my crying in the car, but you got to say, 'Hey, it happens' . . .I'm just happy no one was hurt."
Philip Remsen, who used to work at the yard, was hopeful at first.[[388783662 ,C]]
"At one point it looked like they had it under control but then it just took over the inside," said Remsen, who watched as the walls came down.
"If you needed any building materials, any hardware, plumbing supplies, this was the place to come," Remsen said.
The Colucci family rebuilt the business after a fire in the 1960s, but with smoke still billowing in the air, Branden Colucci wasn't so optimistic.
"This might take it down officially," said Branden Colucci. "Colucci lumber may be no more."
Two firefighters were treated for heat exhaustion.
Route 47 was expected to be closed into the night, impacting Sunday shore traffic.
NBC10's Aundrea Cline-Thomas reports live from the scene of the fires tonight at 6.
