On Sept. 17 at 10:44 a.m., Medford Township Police, Fire and EMS responded to Tabernacle Road in front of Shawnee High School, for a report of trash truck on fire. Upon the arrival of emergency personnel, it was discovered that a trash truck, belonging to Gold Medal Environmental NJ Incorporated, Hurffville Road in Sicklerville, was parked in the westbound lane of Tabernacle Road and was fully engulfed in flames. Police evacuated three residences along Tabernacle Road for a brief period of time, due to the possible extension of flames from the truck to the wooded area in front of the residences. Initial investigation revealed the vehicle was in operation of picking up trash along Tabernacle Road when the driver observed smoke coming from the truck and exited the vehicle when it caught fire. No injuries occurred during the incident. Lumberton, Tabernacle and Indian Mills fire personnel responded to the fire scene to assist with extinguishing the blaze. Burlington County Board of Health was also on scene and assisted with the incident. Tabernacle Road was closed to traffic from Dixontown Road to Bearhead Road for several hours during the clean up and removal of the trash truck, as well as for repairs to the power lines and phone lines. Shawnee High School was placed in a Shelter in Place until the fire was brought under control. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time and is still under investigation by the Medford Township Fire Marshal.
