Thomas
McPArland

THOMAS McPARLAND born in Camden on September 2, 1911. He was appointed to the Camden Fire Department in the early 1940s. By 1946 he had been assigned to Engine Company 6 at Front and Linden Streets in the late 1940s. In December of 1953 he was promoted to Camden and assigned to Engine Company 9 in East Camden.

Just after 10 P.M. on February 20, 1946, a major fire occurred in the S.S. Kresge Department Store at 29-33 broadway near Federal Street. First arriving units found heavy smoke billowing from the building as second and third alarms were transmitted in quick succession.

Shortly after midnight, a backdraft injured five members as flames raced through the building. Firemen William Reed, Thomas Winstanley, Theodore Guthrie, Thomas McParland and Captain Howell Needham were removed to Cooper Hospital for facial bums; whereupon each member insisted on returning to the fire following treatment. At 12:30 A.M. Deputy Chief Charles Erickson directed the Fire Dispatcher to recall a platoon of off duty members and summon them to the fire. By 2 A.M. the flames had broken through the roof and were visible ten blocks away. As the first floor began to collapse Engine Company 8 was forced into the street as a roaring column of tin vented outward some thirty-five feet over Hudson Street. While the Department was making a major effort on broadway, another fire broke out at the Camden Foundry Company, Front and Elm Streets, North Camden. Engine Company 11 assisted by off duty members staffing reserve apparatus confined this fire to a section of the building.  

Captain McParland retired on pension in September of 1976, having reached the age for mandatory retirement. He passed away at home in Gloucester City, New Jersey on September 13, 1997.

Camden Courier-Post * February 20, 1946

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

Click on Image to Enlarge - Click HERE to Supersize

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 Deitz, Captain Thomas Winstanley, James Stewart, Mario Fattore, and Ernest Tartaglia,

Camden Courier-Post * November 30, 1953

3 Hosemen Made Fire Captains

Three hosemen were promoted to the rank of fire department captain today by Public Safety Commissioner E. George Aaron.

Aaron also announced the appointment of six new firemen and two new policemen.

Thomas E. McParland, 1617 Euclid Avenue,, of No. 6 Engine Co.;
Leonard F. Garbrecht, 5 Court G, Canterbury Apartments, of No. 10 Engine Co.; and Louis J. Martelli, 569 Line Street, of No. 8 Engine Co., were promoted to captaincies in the Fire Department.

The new firemen are henry j. keating, 3316 Lemuel Avenue, transferred from the Police Department; Thomas J. McCabe, 385 Garden Avenue; Orville Goldsboro, 293 Liberty Street; Carmen Ianelli, 310 Berkley Street; Michael Panelli, 802 South 6th Street, and Harrison W. MacNeir. 29 South 35th Street.

The new policemen are Michael A. R. Gimino, 925 North 22nd Street, and Vincent J. Wall, 12 Court H. Canterbury Apartments.

After the Fire
that destroyed
The Market Street Ferry Terminal

Engine Company 9
October 6, 1954

Standing: Howard Harrington
Captain Thomas McParland
Harry Mailahn
Clarence McMullen
Seated: Daniel F. Jiannetto

Photo by Bob Bartosz

After the Fire
that destroyed
The Market Street Ferry Terminal

Engine Company 9
October 6, 1954

Standing: Howard Harrington
Captain Thomas McParland
Harry Mailahn
Clarence McMullen
Seated: Daniel F. Jiannetto

Photo by Bob Bartosz