Joseph F. Wolfinger
Joseph F. Wolfinger was born on June 8, 1919. He served during World War II with the United States Navy.
Joseph Wolfinger joined the Camden Fire Department on October 16, 1958. He was promoted to Captain on January 18, 1965, and to Battalion Chief on August 19, 1975. On November 1, 1986 Chief Wolfinger retired from active duty with the fire department.
Last a resident of Maple Shade, New Jersey, Joseph F. Wolfinger died on November 26, 2002.
Graduation of Probationary Firemen, 1959
Graduation of Probationary Firemen, 1959. From left: Chief John Graham, Captain Anthony Dzinski, Assistant Training Officer Nicholas George, Firemen Herman Reed, Bertram Dahl, Joseph Dowhy, Joseph Simpson, Edward Morgenweck, Charles Christensen, Joseph Wolfinger, George Dixon, Edward Ulrich, Reginald Laws, Grant Keller, and Chief Edward MacDowell.
20 Firemen Pass Test For Captain
Camden Courier-Post —
Deputy Fire Chief Edward Michalak, acting chief engineer in the absence of Chief MacDowell, announced Friday that 20 of 50 firemen who took the examination for fire captain received passing grades.
Heading the list is James McGrory of 111 Terrace ave., attached to No. 2 Engine Co. He is followed by Joseph Wolfinger of 320 Fountain ave., attached to No. 1 Ladder Co., and Charles Christensen of 3045 S. Atlanta rd., attached to No. 11 Engine Co. Christensen is a nephew of retired Capt. James Young.
Michalak said that there is only one vacancy for captain in the department at this time. The post pays $6,575. Top pay for fireman is $5,975.
Starting the New Year on the Job
Camden Courier-Post —
Courier-Post Photos by Bob Bartosz and Arthur C. Jarvis
FIREMEN MAN equipment in fire headquarters, 3rd and Arch sts., New Year’s Day. They were among hundreds of South Jerseyites at work in diverse ways despite the holiday. Men in foreground are Fireman John Brzozowski (left) and Capt. Joseph Wolfing [sic], both members of Engine Co. 2.
Kneeling Firemen at the 1729 Railroad Avenue Fire
Camden Courier-Post —
KNEELING to hold hose in place, firemen backed off, a moment later as rear of vacant building at 1729 Railroad Avenue caved in during three alarm blaze yesterday. Two persons were hurt. Probe of faulty fire hydrants has been asked.
From Left: Captain Joseph Wolfinger, Albert Jones, William O’Dennis
Photo by Bob Bartosz
Widow Routed by Blaze
Camden Courier-Post —
A Camden woman whose husband was killed seven weeks ago in a traffic mishap today was routed from her home when fire broke out in the upstairs bedroom for the second time within six hours.
Mrs. Edith McDevitt, 45, of 916 Front St. was aroused while sleeping on the living room couch about 8 a.m. as she heard what appeared to be stones hitting a window.
As Mrs. McDevitt investigated she discovered the noise was fire crackling in the bedroom upstairs. She then ran to the rear door where she called for neighbors’ aid. One of the neighbors notified the fire department.
Two Overcome
Responding to the alarm were Engine Companies 2 and 6 and Ladder Company 1.
According to Fire Capt. Joseph Wolfinger, flames had engulfed the bedroom and flames shot from windows as firemen arrived at the scene. The fire was quickly extinguished although two firemen — Acting Capt. John Brzozowski of Engine Company 2 and Fireman Samuel Fisher of Ladder No. 1 — were overcome by smoke. Both were treated at the scene.
According to authorities, Mrs. McDevitt reported she had taken medication before retiring about 11 o’clock last night. She apparently fell asleep before finishing a cigarette which ignited the mattress.
Doused Mattress Fire
However, she doused the mattress fire—about 2 a.m.—with a bucket of water. Believing the fire out, she went downstairs and slept on the couch.
Mrs. McDevitt told firemen she has been prescribed a depressant medication since the death of her husband, James, who was killed last April 22 when the car he was driving crashed into a viaduct overpass on Admiral Wilson Boulevard near Federal Street.
Authorities said Mrs. McDevitt’s bedroom had extensive fire damage but was contained to that area. More than $300 in coins also was recovered for the widow after she informed firemen that a pitcher broken during the fire contained many coins.
Camden Fire Department Maintenance Shop, c. 1984
Camden Fire Department Maintenance Shop, c. 1984. From left: Donald A. Kinsey, Walter P. Wolick, Doug Arensberg, Alan Kozuhowski, Chief Joseph F. Wolfinger.
Joseph F. Wolfinger Obituary
Camden Courier-Post —
WOLFINGER, JOSEPH F. Age 83, of Maple Shade, formerly of Pennsauken, died Tuesday, November 26, 2002, at Virtua Hospital, Voorhees.
Mr. Wolfinger proudly served his country during WWII in the U.S. Navy.
He was a Camden City firefighter from 1959 to 1987. He was Captain of Camden’s Ambulance and he retired as Chief Apparatus Officer.
Mr. Wolfinger was a communicant at St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church in Merchantville and a member of Maple Shade VFW Post 2445.
The husband of the late Edna (nee Whinna), Mr. Wolfinger is survived by a son, Frederick J. Wolfinger and his wife Pat of Maple Shade; a sister, Mary Henkel of Haddon Hts.; 2 brothers, Harry Wolfinger of Blackwood and James Wolfinger of CA; and 2 grandsons, Joseph A. Wolfinger and James F. Wolfinger, both of Maple Shade.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend his Funeral Monday starting 8:30 AM at INGLESBY/GIVNISH OF MAPLE SHADE, 600 E. Main St. Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10 AM at St. Peter’s RC Church. Burial will be private. His Viewing will be Sunday evening 7–9 PM at the Funeral Home.
Fire Watch: In This Issue
Fire Watch Magazine — Spring 1977
FIRE WATCH
VOL. 1 NO. 1
SPRING 1977
IN THIS ISSUE
MESSAGE FROM LOCAL #788 2
WHAT'S NEW 4
VIEW FROM THE TOP 5
SAFETY EVERYONE'S CONCERN 6
A CITY CHANGING IT'S [sic] IMAGE 8
DO YOU REMEMBER 10
HOT FLASHES 11
FIREHOUSE CHATTER 12
IN RECOGNITION 13
RUNS AND WORKERS-1976 13
DOWN MEMORY LANE 14
OUR SUPPORT SERVICES 16
QUIZ BIZ 18
FROM THE RULE BOOK 19
OUR PATRONS 19
PUBLISHED QUARTERLY BY AND FOR CAMDEN FIREFIGHTERS
The Cover Photo of our inaugural issue displays the scene that greeted first arriving units on the morning of 6 June, 1976 at Mt. Ephraim Avenue and Fairview Street, the Harris Terminal Complex. The fire involved a four story brick and corrugated steel warehouse (100 x 1000) containing miscellaneous industrial materials. Structure was fully involved upon arrival of Department Forces. As is evident in photo, the firebuilding was completely obscured from view by extremely heavy smoke conditions that were visible as far as thirty miles away. Elevated water tank in background, which is adjacent to firebuilding, is 100 feet tall. A massive effort by over 400 hundred [sic] manning some fifty pieces of equipment, was required to control the blaze. The Camden Fire Department was assisted by the mutual-aid response of Fire Units from Camden County. A 10th Alarm for Box #4412 was transmitted for this fire. Photo by M. Hall.
(LIABILITY STATEMENT)
1) The contents of FIREWATCH magazine are not intended to reflect official Fire Department policy, and are published with the express purpose of broadening the member's understanding and interest in the Fire Fighting Profession, and the Labor Movement. Opinions and ascertations [sic] set forth by authors of articles in FIREWATCH magazine do not reflect the views of the Fire Department of the City of Camden, N.J. or Local #788, I.A.F.F.
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OFFICIAL DIRECTORY CAMDEN FIRE DEPARTMENT
Edward V. Michalak, Chief of Department
Dep. Chf. Joseph R. Guarino, Personnel & Administration
Dep. Chf. Daniel F. Jiannetto, Department Properties
Dep. Chf. Anthony C. Saponare, Support Services
Dep. Chf. Theodore L. Primas, Staff Services
Batt. Chf. Harold H. Pike, Chief Fire Marshal
Capt. Vincent G. Orme, Asst. Fire Marshal & Community Relations
Batt. Chf. Matthew J. Davies, Fire Training Academy
Capt. Ronald Guernon, Training Officer
Chief Joseph F. Wolfinger, Motor Maintenance Unit
OFFICIAL DIRECTORY CAMDEN FIREFIGHTER'S UNION, LOCAL #788, I.A.F.F.
Robert J. Williams, President E.11
William H. Colucci, 1st Vice President L.1
Robert K. Troutman, 2nd Vice President E.6
Richard J. Tate, 3rd Vice President E.8
Robert W. Frett, Secretary B.1-Aide
George F. Kifferly III, Treasurer E.11
Edward DeHart, State Delegate E.11
William S. DiPompo, State Delegate E.8
William L. Kamman, State Delegate E.3
PUBLICATION STAFF, FIREWATCH MAGAZINE
Editor Peter Carbone E.1
Asst. Editor Joseph Marini L.1
Circulation Martin Murray L.2
Historian Dennis Penn E.7
Art Robert Zieniuk E.3
Graphics B. James Nash E.8
ADVERTISING STAFF
Paul Matyjasik Div. Pool
Paul Price Div. Pool
Paul Speas E.1
Motor Maintenance
Fire Watch Magazine — Spring 1977
OPERATING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS
BY CHIEF JOSEPH F. WOLFINGER
MOTOR MAINTENANCE OFFICER
Operational Tips on Shifting the HT #70 Automatic Transmissions In and Out of Pumping Gear. (As per the new Maxim and Pierce Pumpers).
Engage maxie-brake. To avoid gears from clashing, set road transmission into neutral, and then shift to reverse. This will stop the tail-shaft from turning. As you come out of reverse, continue your shifting to the designated gear that will engage your piece into pump gear, and apply pump gear.
To disengage pump gear, first shift to neutral and then momentarily to reverse, once again stopping the tail-shaft. As you come out of reverse, to neutral, take pump out of pump gear. With a little practice, you will avoid clashing of gears and extend the life of the pump transmission gears.
A clean apparatus, both inside and out, engine and compartments, reflect the professional firefighter you are. Remember that a clean engine helps eliminate hot spots for longer engine life and optimum performance.