Camden Fire Department - Ladder Company 2

Camden Fire Department
Ladder Company
2

Ladder Company 2 was organized on March 1, 1900 and entered service the same date at 619 Kaighn Avenue in South Camden, sharing a building with Engine Company 8 at that site until 1986. This unit was the last company to operate with horse drawn fire apparatus. The department became fully motorized on April 6, 1916 when new equipment was put into service. The Company was relocated to the former quarters of Ladder Company 4 at 2500 Morgan Boulevard. The unit remained at that location until May 27, 1993 when it was again moved, this time to the new firehouse at 1301 Broadway.

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Ladder Company 2 on Kaighn Avenue - 1905

Ladder Company 2 on Kaighn Avenue about 1914
65' Aerial Balock

From left: driver unknown; standing Samuel Price, unknown, unknown, unknown, Harry M. Chambers, unknown;
tillerman unknown

Ladder Company 2 on Kaighn Avenue about 1914
65' Aerial Balock

1916 Boyd 85 Foot Aerial Ladder

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Philadelphia Inquirer
February 7, 1915
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John B. Kates - William Laird - Howard Mathews
Engine Company 7 - Ladder Company 2
Cooper Hospital - West Jersey Hospital

Philadelphia Inquirer - December 24, 1921

Charles Todd - Charles Watkin - Harry M. Chambers - Alfred Lassby
Engine Company 5 - Ladder Company 2 - Engine Company 7

A wooden model in miniature scale of Ladder Company 2's 1927 American LaFrance tractor trailer. Model measures 65" long, 11" high.

Philadelphia Inquirer - April 28, 1922

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Samuel M. Price - John Hunt - Irwin Bishop - Charles Watkin - William Merrigan - William Reynolds Broadway - Broadway Trust Company - Harry Armbruster - Cooper Hospital - Lyric Theater Ladder Company 2 - Engine Company 7 - Engine Company 8

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Click on Images for PDF File of Entire Article

1927 American LaFrance 75' Aerial #5789
June 15, 1972
Apparatus was in reserve at time photo was taken

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1947 Pirsch 100 Foot Aerial Ladder

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Sometimes it wasn't about putting out a fire!
Camden Courier-Post - January 8, 1933

FIREMEN RESCUE CAT ENTANGLED IN WIRES

Nearly 500 persons gathered at Tenth Street and Kaighn Avenue yesterday to watch policemen and firemen recover a cat that had climbed up a pole and become entangled in telephone wires.

The crowd began to gather when a resident nearby saw the cat's predicament and tried to persuade it to come down. Tabby simply couldn't make the return trip. The Second Police District patrol was summoned. Without a ladder or climbing irons, its crew was powerless.

Fire Truck Co. No.2, Sixth Street and Kaighn Avenue, was called. Its men threw up a ladder and the cat soon was safety back to earth. In the absence of anyone identifying it, it was placed in a nearby drug store.

	Camden Courier-Post July 26, 1941 Engine Compnay 10 Engine Company 3 Ladder Company 2

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Ladder Company 2 in action

March 10, 1960
Rendering Mutual Aid in Gloucester City

Broadway & Chestnut Street - January 14, 1964
Engine Company 1 - Engine Company 8 - Ladder Company 2

Engine Company 8 with deckpipe from hose wagon, operates master stream into top floor of commercial building during Third Alarm at Walmart Clothing, Broadway & Chestnut Street, South Camden on 1-14-1964.

Units press an all out attack as Chief Officers confer during Third Alarm at Broadway & Chestnut Street in South Camden on 1-14-1964.

Fighting two enemies at the same time amid fire and ice is a frequent scourge of fire fighters. Members are seen directing exterior streams at Walmart fire, Broadway & Chestnut Street on 1-14-1964 under punishing conditions.

At Broadway & Chestnut Street in South Camden. Member seen at center of photo is Captain Leonard Iannelli of Ladder Company 2 just moments before his death. At left is Deputy Chief Austin Marks during Third Alarm, 1-14-1964.

1965

Looking East
on
Chestnut Street
from
Orchard Street

Camden Fire Department
Ladder Company 1
&
Ladder Company 2

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Photo by Bob Bartosz

1420 Park Boulevard

Circa 1968
Lynette Hegdspeth
of 1419 Park Boulevard
rings bell of Ladder 2 Truck

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March 15, 1973

Elements of Ladder Company 2
and other units
337-343 Pine Street

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Photo By Bob Bartosz

October 9, 1973

Liberty Public School

740 Spruce Street

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Engine Company 8
&
Ladder Company 2
on scene in front of school

Fire Fighter William Hopkins
at the Tiller
of Ladder Company 1

1981

Ladder 2 on Broadway at Everett Street. The Ebony Showplace nightclub had been an A&P Grocery Store before being converted into a nightclub in the late 1970s.

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1981

Ladder 2 on Broadway at Everett Street. The Ebony Showplace nightclub had been an A&P Grocery Store before being converted into a nightclub in the late 1970s.

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1981

Firefighter Pete Carbone kneeling. Battalion Captain Chip Ayers with back to camera.

1992 Sutphen 100 Foot Tower Ladder

	Late 1980s or early-mid 1990s Ladder 2 on Atlantic Avenue near 6th Street Fire at 1475 South 6th Street. Former Allied Metal Stamping Co. Building, last used as a church. Click on Image to Enlarge



	Engine Company 8 was also on the scene

1990

Broadway & Jackson Street
June 30, 1990

Ladder 2 at rear of meat packing plant, with Ladder 3.

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About 1993
Ladder 2 in action

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1994
Ladder Company 2 at the 1301 Broadway Firehouse

Circa 1994 - A Meal at Liberty Station
Ladder Company 2 - Engine Company 8

HEAT WITHOUT SMOKE: Engine 8, Ladder 2, and Battalion 3 in the kitchen with fire extinguishers ready as Firefighter Denny Deal dishes out the noon meal of Four Alarm Chile to brother member William Bain Jr. at the Liberty Station firehouse at 1301 Broadway.

From Left: Kevin Haley - Charles Gibson - unknown (behind Gibson)
James T. Robinson - Anthony Dowidowicz
John Vincent (at head of table) - Bill Bain - Denny Deal

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1992 Sutphen 100 Foot Tower Ladder
at Liberty Station firehouse - 1301 Broadway

1994

1992 American LaFrance
Pumper
1500 GPM

Ladder Company 2 & Engine Company 8
at
Mt. Ephraim Avenue & Kaighn Avenue

Left: William A. Barnhill of Ladder 2

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Ladder Company 2
	January 18, 2000 Click on Image to Enlarge
	January 18, 2000 Click on Image to Enlarge
	January 18, 2000 Click on Image to Enlarge
	January 18, 2000 Click on Image to Enlarge

August 26, 2001
Looking South on Louis Street towards Sycamore Street

620 Sycamore Street - June 17, 2006 Story and Photo: Bob Bartosz
Busy 24 Hours in Camden NJ - 6 Working Fires along with a Rescue
	Camden Firefighters had a Busy 24 hour tour starting on June 16th and ending on June 17th with Four All Hands Fire and Two second alarms all in the South Camden section of the city. The first job was a working fire in a row of two story dwellings in the 1200 block Morton Street. Later that day they had a working fire in the middle of a row of two story dwellings in the 700 block of Spruce Street a few hours latter in the am hours they were call to the 700 block of Cherry Street. First in companies found heavy fire show in a large 3 story brick dwelling that put all companies to work with in minutes part of the structure collapsed Battalion 1 called for a second alarm. A few minutes latter while to fire was going another alarm came in for a working fire at 908 Haddon Avenue, about 6 blocks away. As the companies were coming in they found another blaze a block away from the first job, in a row of 2 story dwellings at 903 Haddon Avenue. Fire Radio put in a Special call to Camden County Fire Units to respond into the City, Fire Companies from Gloucester City, Oaklyn, Westmont, Collingswood, Pennsauken Township were put to work fight these blazes. By 4:30 AM all the fires were placed under control. A few hours later Firefighters were dispatched to 620 Sycamore Street for an Explosion and Fire with reports of people trapped. Engine 8 was first in with Captain Dan Baker. He reported he had the end of a row brick 2 story dwelling that had exploded and had numerous people injured and one victim still trapped on the collapsed second floor and he requested the Second Alarm to be transmitted. Rescue 1 was arriving with Captain Frank Sandrock and Battalion 1 Chief Daryl Lewison along with Squad 7 and Engine 1 and Ladder Companies 2 and 1 and Battalion Chief 2 Mike Dipascale on the second alarm with Engine Companies 6 and 9, Ladder 3 and Special Operations Rescue unit and Car 3 with Deputy Chief Mike Harper and Chief of Department Joseph Marini in Car 1. Firefighters could hear a female calling for help from the collapsed second floor. Firefighters went to work shoring up the collapsed building. Captain Sandrock of Rescue 1 was OPS Officer. About 30 minutes later firefighters were able to get to the badly injured woman. She had burns over 70 percent of her body. Rescue 1 firefighter Eli Hall was sent up the ladder to bring her down. Camden EMS removed her to Cooper Hospital Trauma. Two other males were blown out of the second floor of the building onto the street and were taken to the hospital by Camden EMS. Two of the victims were admitted in critical condition. Car 3 Harper place the assignment control. The explosion is under investigation by the Camden Fire Marshal Office and Camden Police Arson Unit along with the ATF. Cherry Hill Twp Canteen Unit RIT team and Rehab Unit, and County Fire Police and Camden County Field Com units were Special called. This was a Busy 24 hours with 4 All Hands and 2 second alarm fire and a life saving rescue.
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Camden Fire Department - Ladder Company 2 - June 11, 2011
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Camden Fire Department - Ladder Company 2 - June 11, 2011
Ed Stratton, tillerman
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Camden Fire Department - Ladder Company 2 - June 11, 2011
On Fillmore Street crossing Jefferson Street
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Camden Fire Department - Ladder Company 2 - June 11, 2011
On South 10th Street at Ferry Avenue
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Some photographs here are from the limited edition book Fire Department Camden NJ 125th Anniversary 1869-1994. Many were taken by Department photographer Bob Bartosz.

Thanks to Joel Bain of the Camden Fire Department for making certain imagers available.