Robert L. Thomas
Robert L. Thomas
ROBERT L. “BOB” THOMAS was born in Macon, Georgia on March 26, 1918 to Sol and Ida Thomas. The 1940 Camden City Directory shows him living at 1180 Penn Street. He had moved to 38 Branch Village by 1943.
Robert L. Thomas was certified by Civil Service for the fire department on December 15, 1944. He had been in the United States Navy since June 6, 1944, and was not discharged until November 28, 1945. He was scheduled for work with the Camden Fire Department on March 26, 1946. Assigned to Engine Company No. 1 at 409 Pine Street, on April 1, 1946, he reported for duty on April 6. The 1947 Camden City Directory states that he was then living with his wife Evelyn at 38 Branch Village. Robert Thomas transferred to Engine Company No. 8 at 619 Kaighn Avenue on December 4, 1953.
Back trouble and diabetes which both manifested in 1969 caused Robert L. Thomas to retire on full pension on December 1, 1971. He passed away on June 13, 2009.
Photos
Circa 1949 — Engine Company 1, wagon and pumper at front of quarters, South 4th & Pine Streets, South Camden. From left: Firemen Alfred Green, Fred Henderson, Charlie Cook, Leroy Hatchett, Robert Thomas, Andrew Robinson, James Richardson, Eugene Alston, James Clinton, Captains Jesse Jones and Raymond Amos.
Bob Thomas of Engine Company 1 with burnt hose lengths after a spectacular Greater Alarm Fire, 1953 — Photo by Bob Bartosz
Fuller Brush Company Fire
Camden Courier-Post —
Heavy black smoke pours from a vacant factory and warehouse building formerly owned by the Fuller Brush Company at 6th Street and Atlantic Avenue as a three-alarm fire destroyed the structure.
3-ALARM FIRE RAKES BUILDING
Fire early today razed a condemned two-story brick vacant factory and warehouse formerly owned by the Fuller Brush Co. at 6th st. and Atlantic ave. There was no estimate of the loss.
Deputy Fire Marshal John Gaffney said a man who declined to identify himself reported seeing two boys about 14 years of age, running from the building only minutes before the fire was discovered. Gaffney said he has begun an investigation into the cause of the blaze and to locate the youths.
There were no injuries reported but members of Engine Company 8 at 6th st. and Kaighns ave., who were among the first on the scene, escaped being burned seriously and losing a 1,000-gallon pumper after they were engulfed in a ball of flame that shot from the north wall of the structure.
Heavy black smoke could be seen over a wide area.
Spotted Smoke
The first of three alarms was reported at 6:10 a.m. when Donald Fuhrer, an employe of Modern Hard Chrome, located across the street from the building, spotted smoke over the roof of the warehouse.
Two more alarms were reported at 6:15 and 6:18 a.m. as the fire raged out of control, endangering Modern Hard Chrome and Modern Auto Body plants, both of which are adjacent to the factory building.
Capt. Philip Farrow, 46, of 219 N. 6th st., with Engine Company 8, reported that he had never seen a building go “so fast in all my 21 years on the fire department.”
Ball of Flame
Farrow said when he first arrived fire was burning on the south side of the building near the roof. He said the pumper went to Atlantic ave. and firemen were hooking up to a hydrant when a ball of flame shot out and engulfed the men and truck. He said Robert Thomas, driver of the pumper, was forced to put his heavy coat over his head to protect himself so that he could drive the pumper out of the area. Farrow said the men didn’t have time to unhook the hoses.
Fire Chief Edward MacDowell said the building was condemned by the city last summer after a section of the roof collapsed spilling bricks and wooden timbers to the street and sidewalk.
Licks Utility Poles
Mild warm air fanned the blaze and kept heavy black smoke close to the ground and for long periods of time firemen worked in total blackness shifting two-and-a-half-inch water lines from one area of the building to another.
During the early minutes of the fire—
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Fire
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blaze, fire licked at utility poles on Atlantic ave. and burned electric wires carrying the only source of power to West Jersey Hospital about six blocks away. The power to the hospital was not cut off.
Before the blaze was declared under control at about 7 o’clock, flames shot 125 feet out from the east side of the building setting small grass fires on vacant land near S. 7th st.
Firemen used two aerial ladders along with 10 other pieces of equipment and 50 men to fight the blaze. The rescue squad also stood by as a precautionary measure.
Chief MacDowell said the building was more than 50 years old. It once was the site of the city’s first supermarket known as the Giant Tiger.
The fire chief said the city has been trying to get the building demolished but was having difficulty because of the number of owners involved.
Camden Fire Department Personnel Record
Camden Division of Fire Personnel Record — Robert L. Thomas
Robert L. Thomas
Camden Courier-Post —
THOMAS, Robert L. Of Camden, he passed on June 13, 2009, at the age of 91. One of the first Black Firefighters in Camden, he served from 1946–1971. He is survived by his daughter, Arneatha Thomas, niece and nephew, Algiers and Ron Holmes who were his caregivers, sisters-in law, Rhonda Scott, Ethel Thomas El, and Alice Scott, other relatives and friends. Service 11AM Friday at CARL MILLER FUNERAL HOME, 831 Carl Miller Blvd., Camden, where friends may call after 9AM. Interment Sunset Memorial Park. A public viewing will be held Thursday 6-8pm at the funeral home.