On October 25, 2005, South Jersey was bracing its self for the tail end of Hurricane Wilma. The Jersey shore area was getting hammered with 40 and 50 MPH winds just, 50 miles east in the City of Camden, New Jersey they were getting ready for a busy day, rain was falling but luckily the heavy winds had not hit the City.
Shortly after 11:30 am, the tones went out for a dwelling fire on the 3400 block of Merrill Avenue in the East Camden section of the City. Battalion Chief 2 (Anthony Phelps) was the first on location and reported that he had a three story frame duplex with fire showing on the first, second and third floors and reported that he would be using All Hands and a few minutes later he requested a 2nd Alarm.
Even before fire fighters were able to stretch in their first line the entire structure lit off.
Some thirty feet away on the right was a large two and a half story church and to the left was another two story frame duplex.
Water lines were quickly placed on the exposures enabling the fire fighters to stop the spread as more master lines were being laid to attack the main blaze.
Luckily the high storm winds had not reached the City as of yet enabling Camden fire fighters to contain the blaze to the original fire building.
Car 3 (Deputy Chief Price) placed the fire Under Control in about an hour. The fire at this time is being investigated by the Camden City Fire Marshal's Office.
