Introduction
Engine Company 6 was organized on January 16, 1909 and entered service on the same date at 337 North Front Street in North Camden, where the company remained until November 2, 1978 when relocated to its present location at Fire Headquarters, 2 North 3rd Street, at North 3rd and Federal Streets, in the center of Camden’s downtown district. The former firehouse at Front and Linden Streets was sold by the city and remains in private use. The exterior of the building including the hose tower, facade, and all bearing walls were restored by the new owner to their original appearance by 1994.
Apparatus — 1909
Engine Company 6 — 1909
Daniel Leach — 1909
Engine Company 6 — 1920–July 1922
Standing: Unknown, Unknown, Thomas “Tim” Shanahan, Unknown, Unknown
Seated: Unknown, James McDade, Thomas Nicholas, John H. Lutts, Unknown
Engine Company 6 — 1920s
Photos Courtesy of Thomas J. Shanahan
Thomas “Tim” Shanahan — Unknown — Unknown, Unknown
Second-class Amoskeag steam fire engine, rebuilt by the Commercial Truck Co., with electric tractor. Seagrave combination hose and chemical; capacity, 1,000 feet of hose, with 250 feet of 3/4-inch chemical hose. Rebuilt by the Commercial Truck Co., with electric chassis. The electric tractor engines were replaced beginning in the mid-1920s.
Standing: Unknown, Unknown, Unknown, Unknown, Unknown
Kneeling: Unknown, Thomas “Tim” Shanahan
Standing: Unknown, Unknown, Unknown, Thomas “Tim” Shanahan, Unknown, Unknown
Apparatus
1934 American LaFrance 1000 GPM Pumper — 1930s–1940s
July 1960 — 1934 American LaFrance 1000 GPM Pumper. This apparatus was kept and designated Reserve Apparatus 1 after being replaced by newer equipment. Looking northeast towards Linden Street.
June 14, 1952 — An alarm was sounded at 2:29 PM from Box 15 at Delaware Avenue and Pearl Street, the site of the David Baird Company lumber and spar yard, now the site of Campbell Field. The fire spread to 3 alarms, involving Engine 6, Engine 2, and Engine 1. The fire lasted two hours, during which time five 2½ water lines were utilized. A frame building, 2½ stories tall, was destroyed.
1959 Dodge-American LaFrance Hose Wagon — 200 GPM. Looking south on Front Street — July 1960.
1959 American LaFrance Pumper — 1000 GPM — July 1960
1970s — 1959 American LaFrance Pumper 1000 GPM with modified cab. At Engine Company 8 building, 619 Kaighn Avenue.
March 8, 1981 — Engine 6 at Gaudio’s Garden Center, Mount Ephraim Avenue
1992 American LaFrance Pumper — 1500 GPM
1994 — At 2 North 3rd Street. From left: Captain Robert Scarduzio, Firefighter George Candia, Firefighter Michael McCarthy, Firefighter Julius Snyder.
1992 American LaFrance Pumper — 1500 GPM
New Fire Fighting Apparatus
Camden Courier-Post — 1959
Courier-Post Photo by Arthur C. Jarvis
NEW FIRE FIGHTING APPARATUS went into service Thursday when Mayor Pierce (center) handed over the keys of a pumper and a hose and booster truck to Acting Chief Engineer Edward MacDowell (left), in front of Engine Company 6 station at Front and Linden sts. First District Chief Harry J. Wagner, under whose command the new apparatus will be used, witnessed the ceremony.
Camden Firemen Burned
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Not Much of a Fire But Hospital Got Busy
Three Camden firemen were severely burned yesterday when a five-gallon gasoline tank exploded while they were fighting the flames in the rear of 219 North Front street, occupied by Charles Bowers and family. The injured included Daniel Yeach, of 643 York street; David Bakely, of 645 Clinton street, and Charles Worthington, the latter captain of Engine Company No. 6, of which company the others were members. The men were taken to the Cooper Hospital.
The fire burned the rear part of the house, causing a loss of several hundred dollars.
Three Hurt During Test of Fire Hose
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Two Camden Firemen and Child in Hospital as Result of High Water Pressure
Escaping the grasp of several firemen, a hose being tested at Front and Linden streets, Camden, yesterday whirled about like a great serpent and as a result Fireman Rollo Jones, aged 36 years, of 658 State street, and David Bakley, aged 35 years, of 531 Roberts street, of No. 6 Engine Company, and Anna May Lander, aged 5 years, of 325 North Front street, were taken to Cooper Hospital. Jones had a hole knocked in his leg, Bakley nearly had an eye put out and the little girl’s legs were injured.
The hose was attached to a high-pressure main in Camden’s fire district. The force was so great that the nozzle whirled about as though a thing alive. Jones and Bakley were knocked down and then rolled over and over by the powerful stream. Swishing around, the stream struck the crowd, which scattered in every direction, all escaping except the little girl.
While the hose wiggled and bounced about several firemen endeavored to get it under control. It was only after they had been knocked about like tenpins that they succeeded in holding the nozzle and preventing further damage.
After the excitement had somewhat abated it was announced the test was a success.
Funeral of James McDade
Philadelphia Inquirer —
With seventy-five of his fellow firemen acting as escort the funeral of James McDade, veteran engineer of No. 6 Engine Company, who died suddenly Tuesday night, took place yesterday from his home at Front and Linden streets. As the cortege passed the engine house where McDade had been stationed for ten years the members on duty stood at attention with hats doffed. There were floral tokens from all parts of the city, for McDade was one of the most popular members of the department. The services were in charge of Rev. James Lord, pastor of the Tabernacle M. E. Church. The pall-bearers were Lieutenant Clarence Madden, David Bakely, Abraham Kerns, William Thompson, Elmer Burkett, of McDade’s company, and Samuel Hardin, of No. 4 Engine Company. Interment was made at Fernwood Cemetery, Philadelphia.
$225,000 Fire Ruins 5 Uptown Plants
Camden Courier-Post —
How Flames Gutted Big Industrial Building
Residents Flee as Flames Rage in Big Building
Factory of Evans Leather Co. Saved by Valiant Work of Firemen
Apparatus Is Disabled; Debris Buried Fire Plug
Metal Stamping Firm, Textile Concern Heavy Losers; Pattern Shop Saved
Taken shortly after daylight today, this photograph shows firemen still pouring water on the ruins of the Varoma building on Erie street from the roof of the Evans Leather Company building adjoining. Five industries were wiped out in the blaze which caused damage estimated at $225,000.
Sweeping through the Varoma Building on Erie street and driving 80 persons from their homes, a spectacular fire early today wrecked the quarters of five industrial concerns and caused damage estimated at $225,000.
Responding to three alarms, every piece of fire apparatus in the city, with the exception of the “cover-up” companies, fought the blaze for hours.
Handicapped by the location of fire-plugs and the breakdown of several pieces of apparatus, the firemen prevented the flames from spreading to the huge building of the Evans Leather Company, which forms an “L” on two sides of the burned structure.
Twenty dwellings on the east side of Segal street, separated from the Varoma building only by a narrow alley, were also saved after their occupants had fled to the street.
Fire Chief Thomas Nicholas announced later today, after the flames had been brought under control, that he would begin a rigid investigation into the blocking of Segal street by a high board fence and the piling of refuse around a fireplug at the head of the street.
The wrecked building is owned by the Varoma Corporation of which Thomas Van Osten, of Palmyra, is president; William MacIntosh, 3[?]7 Vine street, vice president; Alfred Van Osten, of Palmyra, secretary, and David B. Robinson, of West Collingswood.
Building Loss $50,000
MacIntosh today estimated the damage to the building alone at $50,000. He is also president of the MacIntosh Printing and Lithographing Company, of which James J. Stinson, of Merchantville is secretary. Damage estimated at $10,000 resulted from the fire in the quarters of that concern.
The other industries, all located in the big brick building, which suffered in the blaze, with official estimate of the damage to each, are as follows:
Blue and Gray Textile Company, of which T. A. Carr, of 302 Porter road, Fairview, is president, $30,000.
Allied Metal Stamping Company, of which Joseph A. Skublicki, of 115 State street, is president, and William Daugherty, vice president, $75,000.
James A. MacMillan & Co., manufacturing chemists, headed by James MacMillan, of 809 North Third street, $10,000.
Philadelphia Metal Stamping Company, of which firm Clement A. and Mrs. Florence Perrin, of Collingswood, and Edwin L. Seabrook, of 566 Benson street, are members, $50,000.
Other Concerns Escape
The fire was discovered at 5.35 o’clock by a watchman who sounded the first alarm. The flames had started, from causes as yet undetermined, in that portion of the building occupied by the Blue & Gray Textile Company. The building, which housed nine separate industries, covered an area 100 by 300 feet. Part of it was one story in height and another part two stories. Four of the industries in the two-story section of the building escaped serious damage. They are Kruse & Slattery, tool-makers; the Camden Hardware Manufacturing Company, the Wolf Company, manufacturers of advertising novelties; the Thomas C. Van Osten pattern-makers, headed b[illegible]dent of the concern w[illegible] building.
The structure, at 105-107 Erie street, extends back almost to Segal street and has a frontage covering most of the block on Erie street between Second and Burns streets.
Arrivnig [sic] in response to the watchman’s alarm, Chief Nicholas visioned the danger of repetition of the fire nine years ago when buildings at the same location were wiped out by flames. He immediately sounded the second and third alarms, bringing almost every piece of apparatus in the city to the scene.
Carr, president of the textile company, estimated the loss there at $30,000, stating that a large shipment of intricate machinery from Germany had arrived only a few days ago. The concern was anticipating removal, in a short time, to larger quarters at Ninth and State streets, Carr added.
From the two large rooms occupied by the Blue & Gray textile firm, the flames swung over to the quarters of the Allied Metal Stamping Company. Daugherty, the vice-president of this concern, said his company was filling a large order for electric switch-boxes and had been working at capacity for several weeks. Switch-boxes valued at $40,000 were destroyed by the fire, with machinery and other equipment valued by Daugherty at an additional $35,000.
Blasts Add to Perils
Moving northward, the flames next struck the MacMillan plant, where chemicals are manufactured for paints and drug companies. Here the flames reached a number of containers of chemicals and, for a time, the blaze was punctuated by a series of explosions. Here, firemen risked imminent peril to their lives by carrying other containers of chemicals out of reach of the flames.
Still continuing northward; the fire next reached the MacIntosh lithographing plant and spread through the cutting and shipping rooms, causing damage estimated at $10,000 before firemen succeeded in dragging two lines of hose into this section of the building and driving back the flames.
The Philadelphia Metal Supply Company went next as the fire swept eastward. In this plant, metal cornices and valuable hand-made dies were destroyed at a loss estimated by Perrin, a member of the firm, at $50,000. Arriving at the scene, apparatus from Engine Companies No. 1 and No. 7 developed boiler trouble and were unable to work. Firemen were further handicapped by the fact that the Evans Leather Company has blocked off Segal street at the north end by a high board fence. A fireplug at this point was also blocked by a pile of chemical containers, declared to have been placed there by the leather company.
Declaring that he could have attached at least four more hose lines had this plug not been blocked, Chief Nicholas announced that he would conduct an investigation. He said also that the leather company had failed to place gates in the Segal street fence, as city officials required them to do when permission was given for erection of the barrier.
Hose lines were taken to the flat roof of the Evans company, high above the burning building, and water poured onto the flames from this altitude. Hundreds of persons were attracted to the scene by the spectacular nature of the fire, which was visible from the Camden bridge and for miles around. A police detail led by Chief James E. Tatem and Inspector Lewis Etehr [sic] kept the crowds in check.
Firemen escaped injury while fighting the flames at their height, but while they were still pouring streams of water onto the ruins shortly before noon today, the first casualty occurred. Emanuel Kane, of 703 North Third street, a fireman attached to Engine Company No. 6, was struck on the head and knocked down by a 12-foot length of steel bar, six inches thick, which pinned him under it as he fell. Companions ran to his aid, lifted the bar from him and revived him. Hospital treatment was not necessary.
Eight other firemen narrowly escaped serious injury a few minutes later when a section of the east wall fell. The eight men were standing under the wall when one of them saw it totter. They dashed from the spot just in time to avoid being buried by the falling debris. Three of these firemen were from Engine Company No. 1 at Fifth and Arch streets; three from No. 4, Fourth and Vine streets, and two from No. 2 Company, Front and Linden streets.
Jack Sperry, an Evening Courier photographer, was walking along the roof of a part of the burned building when he fell through a portion of it which had been burned from beneath. Pinned at his arm-pits, he was dragged out. He got his picture.
While carrying a hose line into the [illegible] structure, Firemen Harry Lee [illegible] David Ellis were knocked down when a [illegible]pling blew off the hose but [illegible] hurt.
[illegible] wild confusion was [illegible] street when members [illegible] whose homes were threatened by the flames, rushed to the street, many of them clad only in night clothing. Carrying screaming children with them, occupants of the dwellings also dashed out with furniture and personal belongings which they piled in the street. Cellars of the score of houses on Segal street were flooded by water from the firehoses, which was knee-deep amid the ruins.
Families whose homes were menaced and who were driven from the dwellings were those of Paul Warner, 1002 Segal street; Frank Bosco, 1004; Giles Beebe, 1006; Howard Pratt, 1008; Mrs. Mary Sweeten, 1010; Charles Randall, 1012; Harry Burr, 1014; John Sweeten, 1016; Leona Moore, 1018; Dora Annastasio, 1020; John Hamilton, 1024; Abe Granis, 1026; George Stewart, 1028; Arthur Wilkins, 1032; Charles Stutzenburg, 1034; George Wilson, 1036; George Bowers, 1040, and A. W. Dickinson, 1042 Segal street.
The fire today was the fourth big blaze that has occurred on the site. The first was in 1867, when a roller mill and nail factory were destroyed.
In the second, in 1908, flames destroyed the morocco plant of R. H. Evans Company.
In 1919, with the temperature at the zero point, firemen were again called out to fight another disastrous blaze in the Evans plant that had been rebuilt.
Rain Soaked Barefoot Children And Parents Sheltered by Cops
Camden Courier-Post —
Rain Soaked Barefoot Children And Parents Sheltered by Cops
Six barefoot children and their parents who reached Camden tired and hungry last night after two months’ journey from California, were befriended by city police and firemen after two welfare organizations refused to shelter them.
The children, four girls and two boys ranging in ages from 3 to 13 years, were found with their parents soaking wet in their truck which they had parked in a shanty at Delaware avenue and Pearl Street.
Motorcycle Policeman Raymond Carson, who made the discovery, took the bedraggled family to No. 6 fire house at Second and Elm streets where Captain Saunders and other firemen cooked them a substantial meal, the first they had tasted since 8 o’clock yesterday morning when they were fed in Maryland.
According to Carson the Salvation Army reported it had no room to shelter them, while the Wiley Mission wouldn’t take the children and told the father it was too late at night to admit him.
The family was then directed to police headquarters at the old city hall. There Lieutenant George Ward took up a collection from the men sufficient to buy shoes for the children and arranged for the entire family to sleep overnight in the detention quarters on the third floor.
The family is en route to Paterson, home of the children’s grandfather. They left California March 28 in the hope the father could obtain work in the east.
Engine Company 6 — circa 1948
Engine 6 Wagon and Pumper at Front & Linden Streets — circa 1948
Left column, from left: Captain William Deitz, Firemen Robert Dukes, Harrison Pike, Mario Fattore, Edwin Callahan.
Right column, from left: Firemen Thomas McParland, Philip Farrow, Thomas Winstanley, James Stewart, Ernest Tartaglia, John “Shorty” Prucella.
Engine Company 6 — circa 1949
Engine 6 Wagon and Pumper at Front & Linden Streets — circa 1949
On apparatus: John Prucella and Harrison Pike. Motor Pump Operators, l to r: Philip Farrow, Edwin Callahan, Thomas McParland, Robert Dukes, Captain William Dietz, Thomas Winstanley, James Stewart, Mario Fattore, and Ernest Tartaglia.
Firefighters Fete 'Shorty' Prucella After 39 Years in Service
Camden Courier-Post —
Firefighters Fete ‘Shorty’ Prucella After 39 Years in Service of City
Camden Courier-Post —
A GOLD WATCH in recognition of his many years of service with the Camden fire department was presented Tuesday to John B. “Shorty” Prucella, 75, retiring member of Engine Co. 6, by his “buddies” of the station. Prucella, who will retire July 15 after 39 years, is given the watch by Hoseman Ernest Tartaglia. Standing, left to right, second row, are Capt. William H. Deitz, P. Farrow, E. Callahan, H. Pike, H. Needham and Capt. Harold Megee; back row, Capt. Thomas Winstanley, of No. 2 Engine Co.; M. Fattore, T. McParland and William Reed.
John B. “Shorty” Prucella on July 15 is going to stop fighting fires, rescuing cats up poles and trees, returning lost children to anxious parents and marching in parades.
On that date Prucella, oldest member of No. 6 Engine Co., will go on pension after 39 years service.
Shorty, as the other eight members an [sic] two captains of his company call him, is 75. He is one of the two remaining veteran fire fighters in the city who formerly drove horse-drawn apparatus.
The other horse driver is Battalion Chief Clarence Madden.
Prucella joined the city electrical bureau in April, 1910, and after 19 months service, transferred in November 1911 to the fire department. It was at Engine Co. No. 5, formerly at Twelfth and Federal streets, where he drove a horse-drawn fire truck.
Receives Watch as Gift
Later, Prucella served at No. 4 Engine Co., formerly at Fourth and Vine streets. He has been stationed at No. 6 company, Front and Linden streets, for the last 17 years.
Shorty’s comrades, in a surprise ceremony Tuesday, presented him with a gold watch. Attending the affair were Captains William H. Deitz and Harold Megee, of the same company; Firemen P. Farrow, E. Callahan, H. Pike, H. Needham, M. Fattore, T. McFarland, William Reed and Ernest Tartaglia, and Battalion Chiefs Edgar Ellender and Howard Gick.
Prucella lives at 919 Penn street with his wife, Hattie; a daughter, Elizabeth, and a son, Raymond. He has two grandchildren.
Will Take It Easy
The veteran smoke-eater announced his future plans call for “taking it easy” and reminiscing about old times.
“The ‘fire department’ is gone now,” Prucella commented. “What people called the fire department went out with the horses. Horses gave something to fire fighting, and when they left there just wasn’t any ‘fire department.’
“Of course, considering that out [sic] engines get out of the fire house in 20 seconds today, is enough to show that horses could never compare with anything we have today. But the horse drawn wagons got out of the firehouse in two minutes, and Heaven help the man who got in their way.
“It hurt when the old plugs were taken away. The keenest horse we owned was turned over to the street cleaning department.”
Biggest fire in Prucella’s experience was the Hollingshed fire in 1940, but he doesn’t like to think about it because 14 persons lost their lives.
Prucella is a member of the International Firefighters Association, Police and Fire Club, Firemen’s Mutual Benevolent Association and the Camden Lodge of Moose.
Camden Boy Drowns Off Pyne Poynt
Camden Courier-Post —
—Courier-Post Photo by Bob Bartosz
DRAGGING OPERATIONS go on as Gary Auxer, 10, of 517 N. 9th st., directs Rescue Squad 1’s boat to the spot in Delaware River where he last saw Eugene Thornton, 9, of 539 Birch st. At the oars is Winfield Myers and handling the grappling hooks is John Kolessar, both of Engine Company 6.
Mystery shrouds the drowning Thursday of Eugene Thornton, 9. [sic] of 539 Birch st.
Shortly before 6 p.m., Eugene fell or was pushed into the Delaware River, according to eyewitness accounts, as he and an unidentified companion were playing on the pilings between N. 7th and N. 8th sts.
Det. Nicholas Pavlak of the juvenile bureau said police are looking for a companion who was with the drowned boy.
Boys Push Each Other
Pavlak said one account he received from eyewitnesses is that three boys were “horsing around” and pushing each other on the brink of the pilings. He said the water at this point is between 4 and 6 feet deep.
Pavlak said one boy, according to eyewitnesses, pushed Thornton and he fell into the water. He said it was “horseplay which resulted in tragedy.”
Pavlak said police will continue their efforts today to locate the boy who did the pushing.
Grappling hooks operated by the boat team of James Smith of Rescue Squad 1 and John Kolessar of Engine Company 6 hauled Eugene’s lifeless form to the surface at 7:20 p.m.
Men from both units, under the direction of Captain Albert Weller, had been dragging the river between Pyne Poynt and Petty’s Island for more than an hour before the body was recovered.
Identified By Mother
Young Thornton was pronounced dead on arrival at Cooper Hospital shortly after 7:30 p.m. by Dr. Gerald E. Vanston.
The victim’s identity remained undetermined until about 9 o’clock, when Thornton’s mother, Emma, accompanied by her 10-year-old son, Albert, tearfully identified her son’s body at the hospital.
Mrs. Thornton told Pavlak that Eugene, Albert and her eight-year-old daughter, Diane had gone to the playgrounds around Pyne Poynt Junior High School at about 5 o’clock.
Albert told the detective that he and his sister had remained on the swings, while Eugene and another boy had gone off to play at the river’s edge.
Worker Reports Incident
Shortly before 6 p.m., William Passwater of 3225 Mount Ephraim ave., a WCAM employe, reported the drowning, according to Ptl. Peter Yecco and James Anderson.
Passwater told police that a Negro boy had run screaming to the radio station’s Pyne Poynt transmitter station, yelling that someone was drowning.
Gary Auxer, 10, of 517 N. 9th st., told Yecco and Anderson that he and some friends had witnessed the incident.
Gary said he had gone to water’s edge to warn Eugene and his friend. When he reached the scene, Auxer said, he heard Eugene’s friend, a Negro boy about 12, challenging Eugene to go in the water.
“It ain’t deep. It’s low tide,” the older boy said, according to Gary.
Then, when it seemed Eugene was not going to jump in the river, the older boy pushed him in, Gary said.
Youth Frightened
After the older boy reached for Eugene in the water and failed, he became frightened and ran off, Auxer told police.
Gary, a fifth-grader at Sewell School, said he tried to grab Eugene several times unsuccessfully. A friend of Auxer’s, John Barry Kelley, 9. [sic] of 642 Erie st., a third grader at Holy Name School, said he grabbed Eugene’s hand but the drowning boy let go.
Some 200 spectators lined the Delaware’s banks to watch the dragging operations.
Besides his mother; his brother, Albert, and sister, Diane, Eugene, a student at Cooper School, is survived by his father, Albert, a Pennsylvania Railroad employe; two brothers, Jacob, 5, and Carl, 2; and two sisters, Geraldine, 5, and Cynthia, 1.
Engine Company 6 — circa 1982
circa 1982 — Captain Stanley Wysocki — Robert Basile — Jerry Garten Jr. — Gus Barbetta
Engine Company 6 — circa 1984
circa 1984 — Jerry Garten Jr. — Captain Stanley Wysocki — Robert Basile — Charles Panelli — Gus Barbetta
Engine Company 6 — circa 1985
circa 1985 — Jerry Garten Jr. — Robert Basile — Captain Stanley Wysocki — Gus Barbetta
Gaudio's Garden Center Fire
March 8, 1981 — Gaudio’s Garden Center on Mt. Ephraim Avenue
Two Camden Toddlers Die As Fire Razes Row House
Camden Courier-Post —
Babysitter Seriously Burned
—Courier-Post Photo by Bob Bartosz
BODY of child, one of two young victims of Camden blaze, is carried from Fern Street row house by Capt. Al Collum of Engine Company 1.
By BOB REICHENBACH, Courier-Post Staff
A Camden man was in critical condition at Cooper Hospital today and two children were dead after a fire swept through a North Camden row house yesterday.
Stanley Brown, 25, was burned over 50 per cent of his body in the blaze at 825 Fern St. that took the lives of James Lyles, 3, and his brother John M., 2.
The two boys, sons of Mrs. Inez Brown, 22, died of burns over their entire bodies, according to an autopsy report released today by Blair M. Murphy, investigator for the Camden County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Flames Spread Rapidly
The first alarm was called at 1:40 p.m. Six minutes later a second alarm was issued as heavy winds whipped flames and the blaze spread throughout the small two-bedroom row home.
The fire apparently started in the kitchen in the rear of the home, a preliminary investigation has turned up.
“The gas stove was lit,” Deputy Chief Theodore Primas explained, “just to help take the chill away.”
According to Brown’s hospital bedside testimony, the children were playing in the house.
“The kids were running around,” Primas said, “and there most probably is a link between the stove and the children.”
Brown, he continued, was asleep in one of the second-story bedrooms when the fire started.
A member of the family said Brown had been babysitting for the boys while their mother went shopping. A sister, Dorothy, 4, was visiting a grandmother. The children’s father is stationed in Kansas City, Mo., with the Army.
Leaps To Safety
According to reports, Brown jumped from the second floor window and told firemen that the two boys were trapped inside.
Firemen were unable to get into the house until about half an hour later when the flames subsided.
A fireman, Robert Troutman, 40, of Engine Company 6, was injured when he was blown from the front door he was trying to enter, according to other firemen.
He was treated at Cooper Hospital for smoke inhalation.
Troutman had been called to a one-alarm fire a block away, at 531 N. 9th St. Shortly after that fire was under control, firemen were ordered to the Fern Street address.
Firemen said Troutman and Capt. James McGrory, 44, of Engine two, tried to enter the home when they arrived. An explosion of undetermined origin apparently sent them flying to the sidewalk.
High winds threatened two adjoining homes as flames and smoke spread along the roof eves. Firemen cut through the ceilings of all three homes to combat fire spreading through the roof crawlspace.
Firemen found the two children in the bathroom at about 2:15.
“There was a big one and a smaller one,” said Primas, “but I don’t know which was which, they were both burned beyond recognition.”
The two-alarm fire followed within almost 15 minutes of a one alarm fire that Battalion Chief John Mogck said was “deliberately set in the kitchen.”
Spring winds again fanned the flames and the vacant rowhouse on N. 9th Street was “completely engulfed” when firemen arrived.
Mogck said an investigation of the 9th Street blaze will definitely be made.
Family Mourns 2 Boys
Children’s Grandmother Inconsolable
Mrs. Doris Brown sat weeping on the sofa in a home across the street following the two-alarm fire that took the lives of her two young grandchildren.
The family there was trying to keep people away from the distraught grandmother but they failed.
Neighbors and friends were crowding around. They wanted to find out what had happened. “I really don’t know,” she said, rubbing her surviving granddaughter’s head.
Looking at Girl
“She . . .” Mrs. Brown said, looking at the little girl, “was over here when it started.”
Dorothy, 4, looked up at her grandmother. She was confused.
But she seemed to know she should be quiet.
“My daughter was uptown shopping,” Mrs. Brown said between sobs, “and her friend (Stanley Brown) was watching the kids.”
The mother of the two small boys, Mrs. Inez Brown, 22, was shopping at Broadway and Kaighns Avenue, according to Blair M. Murphy, Camden County Medical Investigator.
Mrs. Brown cried more, probably thinking about how she would break the news to her daughter.
‘Where’s Father?’
“Where’s the father?” someone asked.
Mrs. Brown looked up from her crumpled handkerchief and said, “He’s in Kansas City (Mo.) with the Army.”
She looked at Dorothy again. “She was visiting me (at 531 Elm St.) and then said she was going home,” the grandmother said.
She sighed. “She must have come here instead,” she continued.
Mrs. Brown began crying harder. A neighbor tried to comfort her. Those crowding around began to leave. On their way out, they saw two small bodies wrapped in white sheets being lowered from the bedroom window across the street. Attendants carried the covered bodies to waiting ambulances.
Crowd Falls Short In McIntire March
By LARRY WILLIAMS, Courier-Post Staff
WASHINGTON — Fewer than 15,000 pro-Vietnam war demonstrators were on hand as Dr. Carl McIntire’s “march for victory” started down Pennsylvania Avenue today.
McIntire said during the prayer meeting that he was “heartened” by the number of persons who attended the hour-long session, despite earlier
16 Coal Miners Killed in Blast
VIENNA (UPI)—At least 16 coal miners died early today when an explosion rocked a mine in northeastern Czechoslovakia, the government announced.
The government announcement said two other miners have been saved and 10 “are being rescued.”
The announcement by the official news agency CTK said 28 men were in the Paskov mine, near the city of Ostrava, when the explosion occurred. The blast occurred just before the changeover from the night to day shifts.
7 Area Policemen Finish Drug Course
Seven South Jersey police officers were recent graduates of the twelfth class in a special drug law enforcement training program for municipal officers, conducted at the State Police Academy, Sea Girt.
They were Ptl. William Sheffield, Collingswood; Capt. Joseph Foster, Pitman; Ptl. Anthony Francesco, Edgewater Park; Det. James Dooley, Atlantic City; Sgt. Charles Rankin, Margate; Ptl. Walter Oliver, Middle Township, and Sgt. Dominic Romeo, Wildwood.
620 Sycamore Street — Busy 24 Hours in Camden NJ
Story and Photo: Bob Bartosz
Camden Firefighters had a busy 24 hour tour starting on June 16th and ending on June 17th with four All Hands fires and two second alarms all in the South Camden section of the city. The first job was a working fire in a row of two story dwellings in the 1200 block Morton Street. Later that day they had a working fire in the middle of a row of two story dwellings in the 700 block of Spruce Street; a few hours later in the AM hours they were called to the 700 block of Cherry Street.
First-in companies found heavy fire showing in a large 3 story brick dwelling that put all companies to work within minutes; part of the structure collapsed and Battalion 1 called for a second alarm. A few minutes later while the fire was going, another alarm came in for a working fire at 908 Haddon Avenue, about 6 blocks away. As the companies were coming in they found another blaze a block away from the first job, in a row of 2 story dwellings at 903 Haddon Avenue.
Fire Radio put in a Special call to Camden County Fire Units to respond into the City. Fire Companies from Gloucester City, Oaklyn, Westmont, Collingswood, Pennsauken Township were put to work fighting these blazes. By 4:30 AM all the fires were placed under control.
A few hours later Firefighters were dispatched to 620 Sycamore Street for an Explosion and Fire with reports of people trapped. Engine 8 was first in with Captain Dan Baker. He reported he had the end of a row brick 2 story dwelling that had exploded and had numerous people injured and one victim still trapped on the collapsed second floor, and he requested the Second Alarm to be transmitted.
Rescue 1 was arriving with Captain Frank Sandrock and Battalion 1 Chief Daryl Lewison along with Squad 7 and Engine 1 and Ladder Companies 2 and 1 and Battalion Chief 2 Mike Dipascale on the second alarm with Engine Companies 6 and 9, Ladder 3 and Special Operations Rescue unit and Car 3 with Deputy Chief Mike Harper and Chief of Department Joseph Marini in Car 1. Firefighters could hear a female calling for help from the collapsed second floor.
Firefighters went to work shoring up the collapsed building. About 30 minutes later firefighters were able to get to the badly injured woman. She had burns over 70 percent of her body. Rescue 1 firefighter Eli Hall was sent up the ladder to bring her down. Camden EMS removed her to Cooper Hospital Trauma. Two other males were blown out of the second floor of the building onto the street and were taken to the hospital by Camden EMS. Two of the victims were admitted in critical condition. The explosion is under investigation by the Camden Fire Marshal Office and Camden Police Arson Unit along with the ATF.
620 Sycamore Street — June 17, 2006
617-619 Bailey Street — Camden NJ Fire Fighters Battle Smokey 2 Alarm Blaze
Story and Photographs: Bob Bartosz
Shortly after 1:00 PM on December 13, 2007 a police car on patrol spotted heavy smoke coming from a row of vacant dwellings in the 600 block of Bailey Street in the North Camden section of the city. Companies were dispatched along with Battalion 2 Chief Mike DiPascale.
Engine Company 6, under the Command of Captain Sandrock was first on location and reported that he had a row of two story vacant dwellings with the first two dwellings heavily involved and that he was going in service. Battalion 2 was now on location and informed Fire Radio to strike an All Hands Box and requested an additional Engine and Ladder Company to be dispatched.
It was a rainy, misty day and the smoke was so heavy that fire fighters had a hard time trying to see up the street to where the fire was located. All of the dwellings were heavily boarded up, making it extremely hard for the fire fighters to make entry. Truck Companies went up to the roof to ventilate. Six 1-3/4" lines were now in service as fire fighters were making good progress attacking the fire. They were able to contain the blaze to two dwellings with some damage to the third dwelling. About 40 minutes into the fire Chief DiPascale placed the fire Under Control. The fire is being investigated by the Camden City Fire Marshal’s Office and the Camden Police Department Arson Squad.
Members of Engine Company 6, commanded by Captain Sandrock, going into 617 Bailey Street.
Members of Ladder Company 3 in the command of Captain Andy Magee heading to the roof to ventilate.
Smoke was so heavy that the fire fighters had a hard time seeing up the street.
Members of Ladder Company 1 led Captain Merklein and Rescue Company 1 under Captain Glassman making entry to the heavily boarded up dwellings.
Fire fighters force their way through heavy smoke to attack the blaze.
Fire fighter used a chainsaw to cut through the boarded-up door.
Board of Education Building Fire
Board of Education Building, Front & Federal Streets — July 6, 2010
Captain Ralph Schneeman, Firefighters Ed Cintron and Ralph Rivera
Firefighter Darryl Jackson
Credits
Many of the photographs on this website are from the limited edition book “Fire Department Camden NJ 125 Anniversary 1869–1994” and were taken by Department Photographer Bob Bartosz. Others are courtesy of Joel Bain of the Camden Fire Department.
4 Cops, 4 Firemen, Widow of One Win City Pensions
Camden Courier-Post —
Johnson, Garrity, Crawford, Stahl Retire Aug. 31
Four police officers and four firemen applied for pensions under the mandatory 65-year-old retirement law today.
The applications, all approved by the police-firemen pension board, are in line with Commissioner Aaron’s order in December, 1948, advising chiefs of the respective services that state law requires retirement of all personnel who have reached 65.
Police officers to be pensioned are Detective Capt. Samuel E. Johnson, 71, Capt. John T. Garrity, 65, Detective Frank Crawford, 69, and Patrolman Harry Stahl, 68.
Fire department members include Deputy Chief Clarence Madden, 67, and Firemen John Prucella, 75; Spencer Smith Sr., 68, and Frank L’Esperance, 66.
The eight men will retire Aug. 31, with each receiving one-half of the average annual salary of the last three years.
Also approved today was an application for a widow’s pension by Mrs. Carrie Bean, 1103 North Twenty-sixth street. Her husband, Patrolman Howard Bean, died June 8, eight days after being pensioned. She will receive $1000 annually.
Captain Johnson, of 211 Elm street, is considered the dean of the police department, having served 40 years.
Johnson, who will receive $2019 annually, was appointed in April, 1910, and was made a detective 10 years later. He was elevated to sergeant in November, 1928, and to lieutenant in 1930. One year after he was cited in 1942 by former Public Safety Director Mary Kobus, Johnson was raised to captain. He served as acting police chief from December, 1947, to December, 1949.
Captain Garrity will receive $1601 annually. He served as commander in each of the three city districts. Garrity was appointed in January, 1920; made sergeant July, 1930; lieutenant in 1940, and captain on June 30, 1944. He lives at 2515 Morgan boulevard.
Following a “pep” meeting with city detectives Thursday, Aaron announced he had transferred Captain Garrity to his office for “special assignments.” Sgt. William Schultz was named acting captain to head the third police district to replace Garrity.
Crawford, of 578 Chestnut street, will draw $1501. He was named to the force in 1912 and resigned eight years later. In 1931 he was reinstated and received a promotion to detective status in 1942. He was cited by former Chief John Golden.
Stahl Appointed in 1917
Stahl lives at 1513 Baird avenue. After his appointment in 1917, he saw service in most departments of the bureau. He will receive an annual pension of $1401.
Chief Madden, 2760 Mickle street, is serving as fire commander for the second fire district at Twenty-seventh and Federal streets. He was appointed July 1, 1910 and assigned to Engine Co. 5, Fifth and Arch streets.
In 1922 he was raised to lieutenant, and six years later became senior captain. Madden was named battalion chief Nov. 21, 1944 and deputy chief on Dec. 16, 1949.
Madden will receive about $2000, with the others drawing approximately $1358 annually.
Prucella, 919 Penn street, was sworn in on Nov. 1, 1911 and joined Engine Co. 5. Since 1933 he has been serving at No. 6 Engine Co., Front and Linden streets.
Smith was appointed May 1, 1914 and assigned to No. 1 Engine Co., Fourth and Pine streets. He has been attached to No. 10 Engine Co., Ninth street and Morgan boulevard, since 1920.
Frank L’Esperance, 604 Clinton street, is also a member of No. 10 Engine Co., where he has been attached since 1938. He was appointed June 6, 1918 and served with No. 5 and No. 3 engine companies.
Camden Honors Heroic Fireman
Camden Courier-Post —
Rescuer of Trapped Man Gets Medal; Others Cited
A 42-year-old fireman has received the City of Camden’s second highest award and citations were presented to a battalion chief, his aide, and firemen from three companies today for the rescue of a 50-year-old man from a State Street home Nov. 26.
Robert Troutman of 435 N. 41st St. received Distinguished Service Award from Mayor Joseph M. Nardi Jr. A fireman since 1960, Troutman is assigned to Engine Company 6.
The fourth platoon of Engine Company 6, along with the fourth platoons of Engine Company 2, Ladder Company 1, Rescue Company 1, received unit citations for the rescue. In addition, a citation was presented to Battalion Chief James McGrory and his aide, Joseph Randik.
TROUTMAN was one of the first firemen at the scene of the Nov. 26 fire at 633 State St., according to Fire Chief Edward V. Michalak.
Donning an air pack, Troutman crawled through flames and smoke to find the man, Thomas Hall, and lead [sic] him out of the building, said Michalak.
As he led the man to safety, his fellow firemen sprayed him with water to protect him from the flames and heat, he continued.
AFTER the fire was extinguished, firemen found the body of Minnie Hall, 72, in the kitchen of the dwelling, according to the fire chief.
Today’s awards ceremony is part of the city’s observance of National Fire Service Recognition Day.
ROBERT TROUTMAN