Introduction
WILLIAM J. STIBI JR. was born in Camden, New Jersey on May 4, 1924, the son of William and Emma Stibi. He was appointed to the Camden Division of Fire on December 30, 1950 and reported for duty on January 1, 1951, assigned Badge Number 120. He served for more than 30 years, retiring on pension effective September 1, 1981. William J. Stibi Jr. died on July 10, 1988.
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 Giuliano, casper martelli, Harold H. Pike, john j. vane, William Stibi, john dimaggio and Harry Kleinfelder.
3 Boys Killed in Camden Fire
Camden Courier-Post —
2 Row Homes Destroyed
By EDMUND J. CHELLAND and JAY APT Courier-Post Staff
Three small boys died and four other persons were injured today as a flash fire swept two Camden row houses at 317-319 Mechanic Street.
One of the injured persons was hurt after leaping from a second floor window. Another was injured dashing through flames and smoke to safety. Two other persons escaped unharmed from the burning buildings.
Fire Marshall George Baxter and Fire Chief Edward Michelak said a kerosene space heater apparently malfunctioned and set off the blaze in the two-story frame home at 317 Mechanic Street shortly before 9 a.m.
Pronounced dead on arrival at West Jersey Hospital was Thomas Carter Ratcliffe, 9, of 317, and his nephews, Randy Smith, 1, of 319, and the latter’s brother, Robert, 2.
The baby was found dead in his crib. His brother and uncle were found dead in the uncle’s bedroom. The older Smith boy was believed to have run from his home through a second floor door to the adjacent home.
Treated at the same hospital were Mrs. Emiline Green, 66, of 321; Edwood Sharp, 39, of 317; Philip Borelli, a fireman attached to Ladder 2; and Patrolman James Snyder, 25, of 835 N. 35th Street.
Mrs. Green, a great-grandmother of the Smith brothers, was admitted for treatment of shock.
She tried to dash through a second-floor door linking her home to 319, but flames drove her back. She was led to safety by her husband, James, 60, custodian of a Glassboro dress factory.
Green also carried to safety the Ratcliffe boy’s sister, Shirley, 4, who had spent the night with them. Green and Shirley were unhurt.
Leaps 2 Floors
Sharp was admitted for treatment of a broken right ankle suffered when he leaped to the pavement from a second-floor window. He told police he was aroused by the fire, made a futile effort to rescue the Ratcliffe boy, then was forced to jump because of the intense heat and flames.
Borelli was overcome by smoke while battling the blaze. He was treated at the hospital and then returned to the scene.
Snyder was treated for an ankle injury. He and Patrolman George Pugh discovered the fire as they cruised in the neighborhood in Car No. 23.
They radioed an alarm, then tried to force their way into the house at 317 to rescue its occupants. A blast of heat and flame forced them to retreat as they opened the front door.
Firemen Find Bodies
More than 15 pieces of fire and rescue equipment responded to two alarms. They managed to keep the flames from spreading to the house at 321, although it suffered heavy smoke and water damage.
Five firemen searched the flame-and-smoke-filled buildings for the trapped boys and carried the bodies out.
The firemen were Benjamin Walter of Truck 2; William Kamman of Engine 3; William Stibi of Rescue 1; John DiMaggio, acting captain of Rescue 1 and John McGregory, a fire captain.
Three other occupants of the burned buildings were away at work at the time the fire broke out.
Coal Stove Out
Chief Michelak said they are Mrs. Emma Lou Ratcliffe, of 317, who is employed by a Swedesboro cleaning establishment; Mrs. Patricia Smith of 319, who is employed by a Pennsauken cleaning establishment, and William Roane, 25, of 319, who is employed by a Camden barrel reconditioning firm.
Mrs. Ratcliffe is the daughter of Mrs. Green. She is the mother of Shirley and Thomas Carter Ratcliffe and of Mrs. Smith. The latter is the mother of Randy and Robert Smith.
The fire chief said that Mrs. Smith told him that she had found a cellar coal stove had gone out when she awakened to go to work. He said she told him she lit the kerosene heater and left for work about 8:25 a.m.
—Courier-Post Photo by Sam Kushner
SHROUD-COVERED body of one of three boys who died in row house fire on Mechanic Street near 4th is carried out by firemen while neighbors look on from nearby porch.
—Courier-Post Photo by Sam Kushner
SMOKE SWIRLS around fireman as he leans from second-floor window of row house on Mechanic Street near 4th where three small boys perished in blaze.
—Courier-Post Photo by Sam Kushner
CAMDEN POLICE lead woman tentatively identified as grandmother of three children killed in fire from scene of tragedy on Mechanic Street.
In Recognition
Camden Fire Department — Fire Watch Magazine, Spring 1977
Anniversary Dates
Fr. Howard G. Brickner #5 — 26 Years Fr. Harvey J. Fisher #186 — 26 Years Capt. James W. Smith — 26 Years
Dep. Chf. Anthony C. Saponare — 35 Years Fr. Andrew H. Foreman #183 — 26 Years Fr. William J. Stibi #120 — 26 Years
Batt. Chf. Robert E. Dukes — 30 Years Fr. Henry S. Keubler #34 — 26 Years Fr. William M. Stone #29 — 26 Years
Insp. Fr. George C. Hennessy #21 — 30 Years Fr. Joseph J. Lesniewski #50 — 26 Years Capt. William G. Winstanley — 26 Years
Dep. Chf. Daniel F. Jiannetto — 30 Years Fr. Phillip MacDonald #71 — 26 Years Fr. Adolph S. Zubrzycki #62 — 26 Years
Dep. Chf. Theodore L. Primas — 30 Years Fr. Joseph J. McTaggart #26 — 26 Years Batt. Chf. John J. Giuliano — 21 Years
Fr. Eugene F. Alston #7 — 29 Years Batt. Chf. John J. Mogck — 26 Years Insp. Fr. Alfred D. Nigro #76 — 21 Years
Batt. Chf. Biaggio P. Ardire — 29 Years Capt. John E. Moore — 26 Years Fr. Leon Puszczykowski #100 — 21 Years
Fr. William R. Harring #69 — 29 Years Capt. Robert P. Olesiewicz — 26 Years Fr. John L. Sterner #73 — 21 Years
Fr. William E. Hinch #151 — 29 Years Capt. Anthony T. Orme — 26 Years Fr. Francis P. Stibi #143 — 21 Years
Capt. Herbert J. Schott — 28 Years Fr. Ralph H. Palmer #46 — 26 Years Fr. Carl R. Szalkowski #95 — 21 Years
Batt. Chf. Charles A. Bates — 26 Years
Members as listed above, have anniversary dates which fall during the first quarter.
Camden Division of Fire Personnel Record
CAMDEN DIVISION OF FIRE PERSONNEL RECORD
Badge No: 120
Name in Full: William J. Stibi Jr. Address: 404 No. 39th St. [later:] 125 Country Lane, Cranbury Run, Buena 697-1165 Age: 26 Citizen: Yes Color: W Sex: M Date of Birth: May 4, 1924 Born in City of: Camden, State: N.J. Name of Parents: William & Emma Marital Conditions: Single Date of Appointment: Dec. 30, 1950 Reported for duty: Jan. 1, 1951 Title of Position: Fireman High School Graduate: No If No, Last Grade Attended: 9th Citation: pension as of 9/1/81 Deceased - July 10, 1988