Fire destroys part of Columbus Farmers Market

A sprawling building at the Columbus Farmers Market in Burlington County was severely damaged in a spectacular fire fueled by high winds Tuesday afternoon, said a supervisor with the county dispatch service.

No one was reported injured in the blaze, which erupted shortly after 2 and went to four alarms, the supervisor said. The fire was contained by 3:45 p.m. after more than 100 firefighters responded.

It was not immediately clear whether the flea market, which claims to be the Philadelphia area's oldest and largest, will reopen Thursday and continue to be open through Sunday - normal shopping hours on the 200-acre site off Route 206.

The county fire marshal was called to the scene. The investigation into the fire's origin was continuing.

Video from news helicopters depicted a raging fire that spread rapidly across the roof of a single-story building on the property.

The farmers' market, in Springfield Township, has been open since 1919 and began as a cattle and horse auction, according to its website. It now includes more than 65 retail outlets, a food court, an outdoor pavilion for vendors, an antiques mall, a farm equipment and tools center, a furniture shop, and a fresh-produce area.

Springfield Township Mayor Denis McDaniel went to the scene and said that after the fire was extinguished, it appeared that only one building was partially damaged. He said two newer adjacent buildings were unscathed. No one was inside because the market was closed, he said.

"The emergency responders did an amazingly quick job of containing the fire," McDaniel said. "It could have been a lot worse."

McDaniel said he hoped the market would be able to rebound quickly as the holidays approached. But, he said, the shop owners who occupied the building damaged in the fire may not be able to reopen for some time. The owners could not be reached.

The last fire was in 1972, when several buildings were destroyed, according to the market's website.