Since we have a short gap in recent fire submissions, I thought I’d share this fire from a trip to Camden, NJ in April of 2009. I was spending the night tour with Camden’s Rescue Squad. Sometime after midnight, tones went out for fire in a vacant row house with occupied units on either side at 830 State Street. First arriving units reported a header and we knew we ‘d have a decent job. The fire was upgraded to a 2nd alarm.
The view as we approached the scene. Larry Shapiro photo
The view looked much more dramatic from a distance since the bulk of the fire was in the rear. Larry Shapiro photo
Two of Camden’s Seagrave engines in the street as lines are pulled. Larry Shapiro photo
The involved unit had been boarded up tight which slowed the companies down briefly. Fire was in the rear, the first floor, and had traveled up to the second floor by the time we arrived. Coming down the street, we saw big flames, but as we walked up to the building, the fire that was through the roof in the rear became hard to see.
A fireman works on the plywood covers as the line is readied for entry. Larry Shapiro photo
A line is readied in the rear. Larry Shapiro photo
The line in front is adjusted. Larry Shapiro photo
Camden Tower Ladder 3, a Seagrave Aerialscope. Larry Shapiro photo
The first line is about to enter the vacant unit. Larry Shapiro photo
There was pretty good fire burning in the rear, and the 2nd-alarm engine was assigned that position. After attempting an aggressive interior attack, companies were eventually ordered out of the building and they went defensive. This fire was during a time when the city was not approving any overtime, so if manpower was below the minimums, units were shuttered for the shift. As a result, it was common to see suburban companies on the 2nd alarm, or even the box if units were busy on other alarms. None of the mutual aid companies were not put to work at this job. There were no injuries.
A supply line is prepared for Truck 3. Larry Shapiro photo
The accountability board. Larry Shapiro photo
Firemen work on the upper roof as another fireman pulls facia from the lower roof. Larry Shapiro photo
Working from below, a fireman works to expose hidden fire. Larry Shapiro photo
A section of the roof is pulled free. Larry Shapiro photo
As fire took control of the second floor the attack went defensive. Larry Shapiro photo