Camden Fire Department - GAs Leaks and a Gas Grill - October 11 and October 12, 2011

Camden Fire Department
Fire, Rescue, & Safety Operations
October 22, 2011
410 Kaighn Avenue - Katz's Party Goods

This page and the other pages in this series are the successors to the series of web-page about the Camden Fire Department called Camden Fire Department: The Fires of the Summer of 2011. On this and other pages in the series you will find pictures and information regarding different events and aspects of the fire service in Camden, New Jersey.

In the late afternoon of October 22, 2011 units of the Camden Fire Department were dispatched to 1125 Baring Street as there was a kitchen stove on fire at that address. The fire was out on arrival. While returning to quarters at 6:05 PM, Camden Fire Department Ladder Company 2 personnel observed a plume of smoke coming from 410 Kaighn Avenue, the home for many years of Katz's Party Goods. Heavy fire was showing from the rear of the property. The building was filled with paper goods and other merchandise, and the fire required a second alarm. When all was said and done, the building was gutted. While Camden Fire Department units were combating this blaze, a car was set on fire 3 blocks away, on Mount Vernon Street just east of Broadway. A company from the Pennsauken Fire Department was dispatched to take care of this fire at 8:30 PM.

Fire dispatcher Matt DeGailler gave the following account of the incident:

At 1909 hours, Squad 7, Engine 1, Ladder 2, Ladder 1, Ladder 3 (FAST Truck), and Battalion 1 were dispatched to 410 Kaighns Avenue for a building fire. Engine 9 was added as a second source Engine. Ladder 2 arrived with heavy fire from the rear of the building, and transmitted the all hands alarm. All hands brought Engine 10 (Resource Engine), and Car 3 (Deputy Chief Michael DiPascale). At 1817 hours Battalion 1 reported heavy fire conditions, companies going into defensive operation. At 30 minutes Car 3 reported that 410 Kaignns Avenue, a vacant building 35' wide by 75' long, was ablaze with heavy fire throughout, no exposures to the sides or to the rear, and that companies were setting up master streams. Ladder 16 from the Collingswood Fire Department was special called. The fire was placed under control at 1938 hours.

Camden Fire Department companies were still operating at 410 Kaighn Avenue when at 2020 hours a car fire was reported at Broadway and Mount Vernon Street. Engine 1132 of the Pennsuaken Fire Department was dispatched to take car of this fire.

Many thanks to Fire Photographers Dave Hernandez and Ted Aurig who were present during this time. I arrived on scene at approximately 8:45 PM, going first to the Mount Vernon Street car fire, and minutes later to 410 Kaighn Avenue. The fire on Kaighn Avenue having been brought under control, two companies were still on scene to ensure the blaze was completely extinguished, and I photographed this phase of the operation. Shortly before 10:00 PM things were just wrapping up, when a call came in requesting that Camden Fire Department units investigate at 863 Haddon Avenue, where a man had collapsed on the front step. It was thought that this may have been due to a gas leak.

Fire dispatcher Matt DeGailler gave the following account of the incident:

At 2152 hours Engine 1 was dispatched to 863 Haddon Avenue for a report of a strange odor in the dwelling. Engine 10, Ladder 1, and Car 3 were added at 2157 to complete an interior fumes investigation. Companies investigated and ventilated. All units clear 2252 hours.

The investigation proved negative, but there was one truly heroic event, when Fireman Lacy Phelps Jr. of Rescue Company 1 recovered a kitten whose owner had tossed into the street. A big tip of the helmet to Mr. Phelps!

As with the web page covering other Camden Fire Department events, if you can identify anyone that I've missed, please e-mail me. (I'm terrible at at names and faces).

Phil Cohen
October 27 2011