GLOUCESTER TWP. — A pole barn containing reminders of a family’s century in farming was destroyed Saturday in a pre-dawn fire that authorities said was deliberately set.
A Clementon man seen running away from the area has been charged with arson.
“It is too unbelievable. To be this evil to do this,” offered farm owner Allison Irwin as she surveyed the destruction at mid-day with her husband, a family friend and a firefighter.
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The fire at the Chews Landing Road farm — the pole barn is about a quarter mile from the roadway — was discovered about 3 a.m. by police on patrol.
The fire was fueled by 600 bales of hay that Irwin said was inside.
Tenants who live on the property saw a man fleeing the farm, Irwin said.
They provided a “suspect description” that was radioed to patrol units in the area, police said.
“One thing let to another,” Irwin said. She was alerted to the fire by her sister, who lives across the street. Irwin herself lives down the road.
“A subject fitting the exact description given by eyewitnesses” was located nearby, police said. That individual, later identified as Gregory W. Woodman, 26, of the unit block of Higgins Drive, “struggled” with police before being placed in handcuffs.
Irwin noted there were three miniature horses in a stable about 100 feet from the now destroyed barn. The horses were safely removed.
The farm owner noted there was an unsuccessful attempt to also set a hen house on fire.
As she spoke, a chicken squawked from inside.
DSC00733.JPGSaturday’s pre-dawn fire at a pole barn on a Gloucester Township farm destroyed a tractor, pickup truck, 600 bales of hay and mementos collected by a family over the past century. (Staff photo by John Barna/Gloucester County Times)
“A chicken just laid an egg,” she said.
Late Saturday morning, what remained were several charred timbers, and the burned remains of a pickup truck, a tractor and some hay.
“Most of that stuff is 50-60 years-old,” Irwin said.
“It’s precious stuff to us. It belonged to my father.”
While the family has been farming for a century, the pole barn itself was new.
“It was just three-years-old.”
“July 31,” Irwin said softly. Straight line winds took down the former barn.
Woodman is charged with two counts of aggravated arson and single counts of aggravated assault and resisting arrest. The aggravated assault charge relates to a firefighter who was battling blaze, police said.
Woodman was being held in the Camden County Jail, Camden, in lieu of $75,000 cash bail.
A firefighter suffered smoke inhalation while at the scene, police said. He was transported to a local hospital.
Members of the Chews Landing, Blenheim and Blackwood fire departments, assisted by other companies, fought the fire.
The incident remained under investigation Saturday by police, the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office and the Chews Landing Fire Marshal’s Office.
