Less than 48 hours after a 12-alarm fire in Camden City, crews were back at work on another multiple alarm fire. Companies were dispatched to the 400 block of Winslow St. at 2:23 after 911 received a call for the big building on fire at that location on June 11.
Battalion 1 arrived minutes later and reported heavy fire conditions showing and struck a 2nd alarm. Ten minutes later Battalion 1 reported the building to be a three-story 400 by 400 warehouse with heavy fire throughout. The third and fourth alarms were sounded. Companies had multiple 2 ½” hand lines in operation as the Ladder Pipes were setting up for operation.
Companies placed master streams surrounding the building as Command requested additional alarms and the Pipe Line Task Force. Multiple companies were ordered to protect the exposures which consisted of a row of dwellings and a pallet company directly across the street from the warehouse. Conrail was notified to shut down their rail system as a supply line was crossing their tracks. At 4:18 Command reported collapses of the A,B and C walls with the fire to be contained. A Philadelphia Marine unit was also dispatched to the scene to provide a water supply.
At 5:35 the fire was placed under control. The blaze reached eight alarms with 20 departments responding from Camden and Gloucester Counties. Companies remained on scene well into the day hitting hotspots. Power was cut off from the area and surrounding houses were evacuated. The building was a 132 year-old timber structure which was known as the Howland Croft Building. The building was reported to be vacant and used to store electronics.
The fire is under investigation. The 8-alarm blaze is located about one mile away from the 12-alarm fire that took place less than 48 hours prior.
Story and Photos by Ted Aurig
