Heavily damaged home at 261 Myrtle Avenue, Dennisville as firefighters stow gear Jan. 26. Photos by Harry B. Scheeler Jr.

DENNISVILLE -- A structure fire reported shortly after 10 a.m. on Jan. 26, at 261 Myrtle Avenue, on the property of Pineland Acres Farm brought response from Cape May and Cumberland county volunteer firefighters and companies.

The initial report was that the structure was fully involved, meaning totally engulfed in flames.

Dennis Volunteer Fire Company first responders arrived and found the storage building ablaze and requested mutual aid from Woodbine and Ocean View fire companies.

The fire continued to burn out of control, and a tanker task force was requested to respond, since there is no municipal water or fire hydrants in that rural section of Dennis Township.

That call brought response from all Lower Township fire companies, and apparatus from as far away as Cumberland County.

Additional manpower was requested from Lower, Middle and Upper townships. Fire hoses lined Myrtle Avenue for several blocks forming a chain from one truck to another.

Fire trucks drafted water from Johnson Pond off Route 47 to relay back to the fire scene. The fire was declared under control at 11:45 a.m..

The county Fire Marshal was requested at the scene to determine the cause of the fire. County Fire Police helped direct traffic at Route 47 and County Road 610.

The home owner reported there was a wood stove being used at the time of the fire that may have been the cause, which is yet to be determined.