In Recognition
Camden Fire Department — Fire Watch Magazine, Spring 1977
Members listed below have anniversary dates which fall during the first quarter.
Camden Fire Department Recognition
Anniversary dates from Fire Watch Magazine, Spring 1977
35 Years of Service
| Description ↕ | Title ↕ |
|---|---|
| Deputy Chief | Anthony C. Saponare |
30 Years of Service
| Description ↕ | Title ↕ |
|---|---|
| Battalion Chief | Robert E. Dukes |
| Inspector | George C. Hennessy |
| Deputy Chief | Daniel F. Jiannetto |
| Deputy Chief | Theodore L. Primas |
29 Years of Service
| Description ↕ | Title ↕ |
|---|---|
| Firefighter | Eugene F. Alston |
| Battalion Chief | Biaggio P. Ardire |
| Firefighter | William R. Harring |
| Firefighter | William E. Hinch |
28 Years of Service
| Description ↕ | Title ↕ |
|---|---|
| Captain | Herbert J. Schott |
26 Years of Service
| Description ↕ | Title ↕ |
|---|---|
| Firefighter #5 | Howard G. Brickner |
| Firefighter #186 | Harvey J. Fisher |
| Captain | James W. Smith |
| Firefighter #183 | Andrew H. Foreman |
| Firefighter #120 | William J. Stibi |
| Firefighter #34 | Henry S. Keubler |
| Firefighter #29 | William M. Stone |
| Firefighter #50 | Joseph J. Lesniewski |
| Captain | William G. Winstanley |
| Firefighter #70 | Phillip MacDonald |
| Firefighter #62 | Adolph S. Zubrzycki |
| Firefighter #26 | Joseph J. McTaggart |
| Battalion Chief | John J. Mogck |
| Captain | John E. Moore |
| Captain | Robert P. Olesiewicz |
| Captain | Anthony T. Orme |
| Firefighter #46 | Ralph H. Palmer |
| Battalion Chief | Charles A. Bates |
21 Years of Service
| Description ↕ | Title ↕ |
|---|---|
| Battalion Chief | John J. Giuliano |
| Inspector #76 | Alfred D. Nigro |
| Firefighter #100 | Leon Puszczykowski |
| Firefighter #73 | John L. Sterner |
| Firefighter #143 | Francis P. Stibi |
| Firefighter #95 | Carl R. Szalkowski |
Two Fires Set at St. Joseph’s School
Camden Courier-Post —
A blackened window is evidence of one of two apparently deliberately set fires at St. Joseph’s Pro-Cathedral School in Camden last night that heavily damaged a classroom and a supply closet. Teachers and others watch from a distance after the building was evacuated. Today’s classes were canceled.
Two Fires Set at St. Joseph’s School
By MARY E. PEMBLETON, Of the Courier-Post
CAMDEN — Two separate fires believed to have been deliberately set heavily damaged a classroom and a storage closet at St. Joseph’s Pro-Cathedral School at 29th Street and Westfield Avenue here last night.
No injuries were reported in the 7:30 p.m. blazes. But because of heavy smoke damage, all classes for the 487 kindergarten through eighth-grade students were canceled today, said Monsignor Charles P. Barth.
About 10 firefighters using three pieces of equipment fought the one-alarm blaze for about 30 minutes before declaring it under control.
“I was cooking chicken for an end of the (school) year party for our teachers,” Barth said. “In fact, it was a cookout — then someone saw flames coming from the seventh-grade classroom.”
Fire officials said the first of the two blazes originated in a supply closet in the rear of Room 10 on the second floor of the building.
“After the men put that one out, about 10 minutes later they discovered another one in the first floor auditorium in a supply closet in back of the stage,” said Battalion Chief Biaggio Ardire.
While firefighters from three engine companies battled the two blazes, about 35 patrons of a weekly bingo game reluctantly left the first floor basement cafeteria where the game was being held.
Although the fire did not spread to other areas, the smoke-filled school building was evacuated as a safety measure.
“I don’t understand why we have to leave. After all, the fire isn’t down here,” complained a participant.
Fire officials said they did not discover evidence of gasoline or other such flammable materials at the scene of the two blazes.
“It wasn’t necessary. There were lots of papers and books, all it took was a match to ignite the whole thing,” Ardire said.
Fire officials said they will continue an investigation into the cause of the early evening blazes.
“The fire was set. But by who we don’t know,” said Camden County Fire Marshal George Hennessey.
Classes Resume at City School Shut for Fumes
CAMDEN — Classes resumed this morning at the Forrest Hills Elementary School in the Parkside section following cancellation yesterday morning because of freon fumes from a broken air conditioning system.
Dr. Charles C. Smerin, school superintendent, said the fumes escaped from a compressor that had broken. Repairs were made during the afternoon, Smerin said.
4 Trapped in Blaze Saved by Firemen
Camden Courier-Post —
By JOSEPH McCARTHY, Courier-Post Staff
City firemen fought smoke, flames, snow and a biting cold during the night and early morning hours as a rash of fires severely damaged four buildings and destroyed a tavern.
According to Public Safety Director Keith Kauffman, at one point only two engine companies were not actively fighting the blazes as seven engine companies, three ladder companies, the rescue squad and three battalion chiefs were at the fire scenes.
At the site of the worst fire, 5th and Mickle Streets, police and firemen braved dense smoke and fierce flames to rescue four elderly persons trapped in first, second and third floor apartments.
Started In Tavern Lounge
The blaze, which broke out in the lounge of Ray’s Tavern, was discovered by Patrolmen Augustus Balzano and Anthony Saponare at 3:58 a.m. after they were alerted of smoke by highway employees battling the second snowstorm of the week.
The two policemen, after radioing the alarm, kicked in the door of the tavern and raced through the smoke and flames to rescue Mrs. Agnes Lockhart, 58, from her upstairs apartment.
The patrolmen took Mrs. Lockhart to Cooper Hospital where she was admitted with a cut head and smoke inhalation.
Minutes later firemen, headed by Battalion Chief Biaggio Ardire, arrived. Ardire said the tavern was engulfed in smoke and flames. He said the flames leaped from the tavern roof to a luncheonette and apartment building next door.
Ardire said firemen raised a ladder to the third floor of the second building where Mrs. Mabel Seward, 64, was hanging from a window ledge. However, firemen were hampered in the rescue attempt by the narrow space of the alley and could only hold the screaming woman until other firefighters could make their way to the third floor window from inside the building.
The rescuers, wearing face masks, wrapped Mrs. Seward in blankets and carried her through the flames to safety.
Two Carried Out
At the same time, more fire fighters entered the burning building and carried out Mrs. Viola Lagerprantz, 65, who lived in a rear apartment on the first floor and John J. Smith, 86, from a second-floor apartment.
All the victims were taken to Cooper Hospital for smoke inhalation treatment and released an hour later.
Kauffman ordered the victims, still wrapped in blankets, taken to fire headquarters at 3rd and Arch Streets and notified city welfare authorities. The Welfare Department obtained temporary housing for the three victims at Volunteers of America headquarters, 828 Market Street. Each victim lost all possessions in the blaze.
Additional Alarms
Ardire, at 4:27 a.m. called for additional fire crews and an hour later requested more aid. Battalion Chief Daniel Jiannetto’s unit answered the first distress call while Acting Battalion Chief Arthur Batten’s men arrived on the second plea.
Batten’s unit had been fighting two North Camden blazes since 10:53 last night.
Ardire said that when firemen attempted to get into the buildings, the fire was raging forward, backward, and straight up the stairwells out of control.
The owner of the luncheonette, Dominic Padulla, arrived at the scene about 5:30 a.m. Padulla and his brother, Frank, who also had been out, live on the first floor.
Canteen Truck on Scene
Volunteers of America Canteen truck with Colonel William Gwynne also was at the scene and served firemen coffee and donuts.
Fire Chief Edward Michalak said he has ordered a complete investigation of the fire.
Kauffman said 5th Street south of Mickle and Mickle Street east of 5th has been closed to traffic indefinitely.
In the two other fires in North Camden, a grocery store was damaged at 442 N. 9th Street, and two vacant buildings at 623–625 North Front Street were damaged.
Grocery Store Blaze
Batten said a defective chimney apparently caused the grocery store blaze which raged through joists and partitions. The store is operated by Benjamin Lamberte while the building is owned by Mrs. Sarah Schecter of Baird Boulevard according to the battalion chief.
Batten’s crew were forced to make two trips to the vacant buildings as wind whipped flames. He said the fire probably was caused by vagrants seeking shelter from the snowstorm.
Before the firefighters could take off their fire apparel, they were dispatched to the 5th and Mickle Street blaze.