Introduction
Captain Philip A. Stinger, 1963
Philip Atger Stinger was born in Philadelphia PA on April 18, 1905 to John & Blanche Atger Stinger. The family, which included older siblings John, Norman, and Dorothy, moved to Camden during the 1910s. They were living at 134 North 25th Street in East Camden by the end of 1919. The Stinger and Atger families would remain on North 25th Street for many years.
Philip A. Stinger was working as a driver and was still living at home when the 1929 Camden City directory was compiled. His brother John was then on the police force. The 1930 Census shows Philip A. Stinger still living with his parents. He was then working as a carpenter. By 1947 Philip A. Stinger had joined the Camden Fire Department. He lived with his wife Bessie at 159 north 25th street. The family retained a presence at that address as late as 1959.
Philip A. Stinger was one of five members of the Stinger family who have served as members of the Camden Fire Department. By 1963 he had been promoted to Captain and was assigned to Rescue Company 1.
Last a resident of Clementon NJ, Philip A. Stinger passed away in June of 1980.
Firemen Here Get Advanced First Aid Course
Camden Courier-Post —
More than 40 members of the Camden Fire Department have completed the Red Cross course in advanced first aid according to announcement today by Howard F. Keller, Collingswood, chairman of the Camden County Chapter’s first aid committee.
Instruction sessions were under the direction of Fire Chief William V. Pfefferle, Drillmaster Anthony Dzinski, a member of the local chapter first aid group, assisted by Nicholas E. George, were instructors. Dzinski is a member of the Red Cross faculty at the National Aquatic School held in this area each year for instruction in advance safety techniques. Dick Harris, director of Red Cross safety services, supervised.
All members of the graduating class are personnel of several units housed at fire department headquarters here. These include the Headquarters Company, Engine Company 2, Rescue Squad 1 and truck company 1. these groups include:
Rescue Squad: Captains Arthur Batten, Philip A. Stinger and albert weller; Edward Brendlinger, harrison macneir, Robert Olesiewicz and james w. smith.
Headquarters Company: raymond banford, John K. Voll and john w. yates.
Truck Company 1: Captains Daniel Jiannetto, Robert E. Dukes and otto v. kaiser; William Watkin, chester gedrich, George Baxter, john mogck, George C. Hennessy, Charles Devlin, Ambrose W. Faust, joseph mctaggart, Howard R. Taggart, William G. Winstanley and elmer johnson jr.
Engine Company 2: Captains James R. Asher, Thomas Winstanley; Carl Wirtz, james mcgrory, Edwin V. Decker, james stewart, Francis X. McTaggart, anthony t. orme, Mario D. Fattore, james o. jones, Francis P. Stibi, william hopkins, Robert E. Briggs, John Guiliano, casper martelli, Harold H. Pike, john j. vane, William Stibi, john dimaggio and Harry Kleinfelder.
Captain Philip A. Stinger and Captain James Stewart
1963
Captain Philip A. Stinger, Rescue Company 1, & Captain James Stewart, Ladder Company 1
Fire Hydrant Vandalism Cited
Camden Courier-Post —
3-Alarm Blaze in S. Camden
Camden’s director of public works today cited vandalism and improper equipment as reasons for yesterday’s fire hydrant problem at the scene of a three-alarm fire at 1729 Railroad Avenue.
Angelo Errichetti said the hydrant at 7th and Van Hook Streets, had been repaired Sept. 19 and charged vandals with damaging it again. The director also said that water department employes removed the cap on the hydrant opposite 614 Van Hook Street following the fire. Firemen charged they were unable to remove the cap at the time of the fire.
Errichetti said he will have the fire department equipped with heavier wrenches in preparation for a similar incident.
The fire, which destroyed an unoccupied house before it was brought under control, apparently was caused by vandals, according to Fire Capt. Philip A. Stinger. He added that the blaze is under investigation.
The blaze also sparked a double probe when Fire Chief Edward V. Michalak charged the two hydrants were “faulty.” The chief requested an explanation from the water department.
Errichetti explained that the city’s 1750 hydrants are inspected continually as often as manpower provides. He called vandalism the department’s biggest problem.
“Vandals break off fittings for the brass content,” he said. “Then they fill the hydrant with dirt, stones and debris which clog the fire pumpers.”
Errichetti also said he has notified all city junk dealers to report to police anyone attempting to sell the hydrant parts. He further cited the failure of motorists to report damaged hydrants following accidents. He said five were damaged during the past weekend.
The fire, which broke out at 1:28 p.m., destroyed the unoccupied house before it was brought under control at 2 p.m. A nearby home at 1727 Railroad Avenue suffered extensive damage on its roof and wooden window frames, but other neighborhood dwellings were unharmed.
Third Battalion Chief Theodore (Ted) Primas said, however, at its height, the blaze threatened to jump a 10-foot alleyway and burn nearby homes.
2 Firemen Hurt
At one point, the entire rear of the building collapsed and fell inside the walls. Firemen used the roof at 1731 Railroad Avenue to train water into the blazing building.
A fireman, Albert Jones, 26, of 1146 Kenwood Avenue, a member of No. 2 Ladder Company, was treated for a cut left eye at West Jersey Hospital after he was hit by flying glass during “cleanup operations.”
Jones and Thomas Robinson of 1727 Railroad Avenue, who suffered a sprained left ankle while fleeing the intense heat, were the only known victims of the fire.
Unconfirmed reports yesterday claimed one of two vagrants, known by neighbors to have been sleeping in the vacant building, may have been inside when the fire started, but no confirmation was made today.