Fire Prevention — 1963
This page and its associated pages contain material from scrapbooks compiled covering fire prevention activities of the Camden Fire Department in 1963, 1964, 1965, and from the spring of 1966 through the fall of 1968.
November 26, 1963
Relax With Job, Credo of City’s Fire Inspector
Camden Courier-Post —
—Courier-Post Photo by Sam Kushner
GEORGE BAXTER, Camden’s new Chief Combustible Inspector, examines one of the 3,000 fire inspection reports on file in his department. The reports he uses to brief district fire chiefs on the latest potential fire hazards in their zones.
“When I want to relax, I grab a fire book and bury myself in it. You would probably call that crazy.”
The words are George Baxter’s, new chief combustible inspector of Camden since Jan. 1 and a 13-year veteran of the fire department.
The imposing title is a new civil service designation for fire marshal, the office which supervises all fire prevention activities in the city.
As the new man in the job, the 43-year-old Baxter brings to it plenty of technical know-how.
“You have to,” he says candidly. “It’s a full time job just keeping up on the latest developments in this business.”
“This business,” as he puts it, is something Baxter “lives, eats, and sleeps.”
He studies it as well.
* * *
HIS HOMEWORK goes back to his first day with the department in 1950.
“On the way home I picked up a copy of ‘A Fire Chief’s Handbook’ for $4.50, took it home and studied it,” he says.
His home at 151 N. 35st. [sic] today contains a fire book collection he values at $350. Many an evening he’ll slip away from his wife and five daughters and relax by reading up on a technical fire problem.
His knowledge of the fire business was a handy asset last October when he competed with 11 local fire captains in a civil service examination for the job he now holds. As the top scorer, he was promoted to inspector by Camden Fire Chief Edward R. MacDowell.
The new inspector has attended several fire courses over the years and to prove it has “enough certificates to paper a wall.”
His favorite, though, is a fancy, gold-bordered parchment which honors him with membership in Her Majesty’s Royal Fire Brigade.
“They probably thought I deserved it for buying so many books through their British Fire Service,” he comments.
* * *
AS CHIEF combustible inspector he heads a five-man department that inspects the city’s industrial and merchantile [sic] establishments, schools and hospitals, correcting fire hazards and fire code violations.
The department checks out all residential fire complaints. It supervises fire-drill evacuations in the city’s schools; instructs in the use of basic fire fighting appliances; campaigns for fire safety; investigates arson, false alarms—and among other things is now in the midst of updating 3,000 fire inspection reports.
Baxter uses the reports to brief district fire chiefs on the latest potential fire hazards in their zones.
His approach to the job is one of a crusader. And his department, he will tell you, is on a perpetual crusade to save lives.
“To this aim,” he says, “we don’t overlook the slightest fire hazard.”
To make that point stronger he adds:
“If we do our job right not an engine-wheel in the department will have to turn.”
To this aim the new inspector approaches his duties like a man on fire.
Spring Clean-Up Week
Camden Courier-Post —
SPRING CLEAN-UP WEEK in Camden began Monday and will continue through Saturday with emphasis given on fire safety by “Sparky,” the dog and “Smokey,” the bear, who will travel around the area with firemen giving fire prevention talks. From left to right are Col. Bedell, director of public safety; City Fire Marshal Baxter as “Sparky”; Deputy Fire Marshal Gaffney as “Smokey”; and District Fire Chief Marks.
George Baxter — John Gaffney — Austin E. Marks — Col. Edwin Bedell.
George Baxter — John Gaffney — Alfred Pierce — Ray Meadows — Parkside — North Camden — Bradley Avenue — Cedar Street — Sycamore Street — Madeline Saracino.
September 17, 1963
GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION Public Buildings Service Camden, New Jersey
September 17, 1963
Chief Edward McDowell 30 Arch Street Camden, New Jersey
Dear Mr. McDowell:
Thank you very much for your help in preparing a program for Fire Prevention Week October 6th to October 12th, 1963.
At our meeting on September 11, which was attended by your Fire Marshal George Baxter and Chief Louis Martelli, the Post Office Safety Officer Frank Wallace and myself, the following tentative plans were formulated for this installation, to take place Wednesday, October 9th, 1963, at 9:00 a.m.
A demonstration of the various types of fire extinguishers on the different types of fire. This would be attended by all our safety personnel and aides.
At 9:45 a.m., a general evacuation of the entire building.
At 10:00 a.m., a demonstration by the Fire Department and Rescue Squad on how persons can be rescued from the roof of a burning building, also the use and technique of the life net. A first-aid demonstration by the Rescue Squad was elaborated on by Fire Marshal Baxter to be conducted in conjunction with the “Rescue.” From the amount of enthusiasm shown by all, this should be a very good demonstration.
In the lobby of the Post Office, I will have a large display board with the different types of extinguishers and cards to show what kinds of fire they should be used for. (How I wish a universal extinguisher could be invented.) It seems no matter how often we are shown that, most of us have a tendency to forget the different types and uses. That’s why I always like to keep hammering on this one subject.
We hope to get good coverage from the press on this and I believe demonstrations of this sort are a great help in keeping the public informed to the great service that is there at their beck and call when the need arises. Mr. Baxter will arrange another meeting with this group when he has completed his plans for this forthcoming Fire Prevention Week. May I again thank you for your wonderful help in sending your men to help us.
Very truly yours, A. Espeland Buildings Manager
Lobby Display at the U.S. Post Office — 1963
Mutual Aid — 1963
Pennsauken Fire Department — Robert Dukes — Edward V. Michalak — Col. Edwin Bedell — Edward MacDowell. Philip Farrow — Howard Doerschner — Niagara Fire Company — John T. Plasket — Richard Davis — Haddon Heights Fire Company.
Mutual Aid Fire Drill ‘Success’
Ten Suburban Units ‘Save’ City
By FREDRICK W. SMIGELSKI
[Photo caption]: WELL DONE, MEN! says the four-man welcoming committee to the Pennsauken Fire Company as it pulls into the Westfield Ave. Fire Station after completing a mutual aid drill with city companies last night. At attention are Robert Dukes, district chief, Ed Michalak, deputy chief, Col. Edwin Bedell, and Edward MacDowell, Camden chief.
[Photo credit]: —Courier-Post Photo by Jack Wolfer
Ten suburban fire companies transported their equipment into four Camden stations last night within half an hour to successfully complete a “mutual aid plan” fire drill.
The ten companies signified reception of a “preliminary alert” sent from the Camden stations at 7:03 p.m. By 7:34 they all had made their way into the city through heavy traffic and were “in service” at their designated posts.
The companies were greeted by Col. Edwin Bedell, director of public safety; George Baxter, fire marshal; Edward R. MacDowell, Camden fire chief, and Deputy Fire Chief Edward V. Machalak [sic].
Complete Success
Bedell said the drill was “a complete success; there were no accidents or mishaps.” He added that the companies did not speed through traffic while entering the city.
Chief MacDowell praised the [text cut off at the foot of the column] were “covered” by neighboring companies and, therefore, were in no way unprotected themselves.
Alternates Available
He added that if one of the suburban companies was unable to reach its city post, there was an alternate company ready to be called in.
The communications center in City Hall, manned by Capt. Philip Farrell, was the “nerve center” of the drill. Its job was to coordinate radio messages from city and suburban-company radios which were sent on different bands. This was accomplished by means of portable radios donated by Chief John Plasket of the Niagara Fire Company, Merchantville, and Capt. Richard Davis of the Haddon Heights Fire Company.
The heavy traffic was directed by auxiliary police and firemen under the direction of Auxiliary Fire Chief Howard Doerschner.
Initiated in 1939
Col. Bedell urged an annual repeat of the drill. The last drill was held five years ago although the actual plan has been put into use a number of times since then. The plan was conceived in 1939 and used for the first time July 30, 1940, in the Hollingshead fire which claimed 13 lives.
Chief MacDowell pointed out that the plan was mutual and the city companies would send similar aid to any suburban company in case of emergency.
The suburban companies which participated, the city stations to which they were assigned, and the routes taken were:
Audubon, Haddon Heights and Merchantville fire companies, to the 3rd and Arch sts. station. These companies used the Haddon ave., Admiral Wilson blvd., Federal st. route.
North Merchantville and Highland fire companies, to the 27th and Federal sts. station by way of Federal st.
Gloucester and Brooklawn fire companies, to the Broadway and Ferry ave. station by way of Broadway.
Woodlynne, Mount Ephraim and Westmont fire companies, to the 6th and Kaighn ave. station by way of Haddon ave., Kaighn ave., 6th st.
September 19, 1963
North Merchantville Volunteer Fire Company Incorporated Merchantville and Jefferson Avenues Pennsauken, New Jersey
Sept. 19 1963
Chief E. McDowell Camden City Fire Dept. Third & Arch Sts. Camden, N. J.
Dear Chief:
The Members of the North Merchantville Vol. Fire Co. of Pennsauken Township, would like the honor and pleasure of having you and another member of your dept., act as judges of our annual Fire Prevention Contest that we conduct annually in the schools of our districts.
The judging will be held on the evening of Oct. 16, 7:00 P. M. (approx. time).
The two films that the contest is based on are entitled “The Torch” and “I’m No Fool With Fire.”
These films are available for us to show to you any time during the week of Oct. 6 to 11 at your convenience if you would care to see them just contact NO 3 1313
Thanking you for your past and present cooperation.
Sincerely Yours The Fire Prevention Comm. Charles Pine, Chairman
November 10, 1963
