Six-Alarm Fire Destroys Plant in Camden
Camden Courier-Post —
By BILL SHRALOW and DANICA RADOSH, Courier-Post Staff Writers
CAMDEN — A six-alarm fire destroyed a bacon-cooking plant at Jackson Street and Broadway Saturday, causing an estimated $2 million in damage to the plant.
The fire started at about 1 a.m. Saturday in the Comarco Quality Pork Products plant at 501 Jackson Street and spread throughout the three-story structure. Twelve employees were in the building when the blaze started. All fled quickly and no one was hurt.
One firefighter was taken to West Jersey Hospital in Voorhees, where he was treated for smoke inhalation and released.
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Backs to ease the heat, but more than a dozen firefighters suffered from dehydration. West Jersey Hospital paramedics treated many of the firefighters at the scene.
“There’s no doubt the firefighters have been suffering from the heat today. Some have received oxygen,” Camden City Fire Marshall James Hillman said.
“But they know to pour ice down their backs and keep on staying cooler,” he added.
A 23-year veteran of firefighting, Ron Angemi stopped battling the fire long enough to drink water and splash it down Jackson Street with a wet towel over his head and neck — as did many of the tired firefighters.
“It’s tough in this heat,” he said. “You exert all the energy and the heat just drains you — hits you like a ton of bricks,” he added.
“Nobody is prepared for a job like this because the heat affects everybody differently,” said firefighter Winston Ward.
West Jersey Hospital paramedic Marc Goldstone said there had been some concern that firefighters would come in contact with chemicals stored in the building. The chemicals were used in the process of precooking and packaging pork products shipped to restaurants and institutions.
Hillman said it is “too early to tell” whether the company will try to restart the business.
Comarco relocated to the Camden location in November from a rented facility at Front Street and Broadway. The company employed 25 people.
Comarco had renovated the 12,500-square-foot building where Dietz and Watson Co. once ran a meat-packing operation. That firm left the city years ago.
Ladder 2 and Ladder 3 at the Comarco Fire
Ladder 2 at rear of meat packing plant with Ladder 3’s 1983 Mack 75-foot Tower Ladder at Broadway and Jackson Street, June 30, 1990.
Firefighters at the Comarco Fire
Camden Fire Department firefighters Paul Matyjasik and Captain Herb Leary getting oxygen at the Comarco Quality Pork Products fire, June 30, 1990.