Camden Fire Department
Engine Company 8


Engine Company 8 was originally organized on March 1, 1900 as Chemical Engine Company 2 at 617 Kaighn Avenue in South Camden, sharing a building with Ladder Company 2. In 1914 the unit was reorganized as Hose and Chemical Company 3 at the same location. The unit was once again reorganized, this time as Engine Company 8, entering service at at 617 Kaighn Avenue, where it remained until May 27, 1993. On that date both Engine Company 8 and Ladder Company 2 relocated to the new "Liberty Station" firehouse at 1301 Broadway, at Liberty Street, in South Camden.

On January 1, 1926 former AEF champion lightweight boxer Little Ray Smith was assigned to Engine Company 8. He remained with Engine 8 until July of 1939, when he was promoted to Captain and assigned to lead the city's Fire Training Academy.


Engine Company 8
1912-1914

Chemical Company 2
617 Kaighn Avenue

Two 65 gallon chemical tanks

1912-1914

Chemical Company 2
617 Kaighn Avenue

Seated: Unknown, Unknown
Standing: Harry Chambers, Unknown

1926

1926 American LaFrance
Wagon Combination

Photograph taken
June 16, 1952

1926

1926 American LaFrance
Wagon Combination

Photograph taken
June 16, 1952

June 15, 1952

1951 American LaFrance
1000 GPM Pumper
L-4456

1952

1951 American LaFrance
1000 GPM Pumper
L-4456

1952

1951 American LaFrance
1000 GPM Pumper
L-4456

1952

1951 American LaFrance
1000 GPM Pumper
L-4456

1952

1951 American LaFrance
1000 GPM Pumper
L-4456

1952

1951 American LaFrance
1000 GPM Pumper
L-4456

If you click on this image to enlarge, check out the billboard advertising "Field Fresh Florida pineapples".

1952

1952 GMC Hose Wagon
200 GPM

Click Here for Supersized View

1952

1952 GMC Hose Wagon
200 GPM

1952

1952 GMC Hose Wagon
200 GPM

1960

1952 GMC Hose Wagon
200 GPM

Click Here for Supersized View

April 17, 1960

Camden Catholic High School
Broadway & Federal Street

1952 GMC Hose Wagon
200 GPM

Click on Image to Enlarge

photo courtesy of Bob Bartosz

Mid-1970s

A Fire near Pine Street

October 9, 1973

Liberty Public School

740 Spruce Street

Click on Image to Enlarge

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

Fire Fighter William Hopkins
at the Tiller
of
Ladder Company 1

September 9, 1977

Plexiglass mounted tpo protect firefighters and equipment from vandalism and attack.

 
Late 1970s
1990s

617-619 Kaighn Avenue

1990s

617-619 Kaighn Avenue

The building at left, for many years the home of General Glass, is the same one that appears in the 1908 photo at the top of this table. At right, the former Talmud Torah building.

1992

1992 American LaFrance
Pumper
1500 GPM

1992

1992 American LaFrance
Pumper
1500 GPM

1992

1992 American LaFrance
Pumper
1500 GPM

1992

1992 American LaFrance
Pumper
1500 GPM

1992

1992 American LaFrance
Pumper
1500 GPM

"Tower Ladder 8" in South Camden, 1992"

About 1993

South 7th Street
&
Newton Avenue

The former J.D. Johnson
Plumbing Supply Co. building
 

1994

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

August 17, 1995

Engine Company 8 prepares to go into service with it's squirt at 719 Morgan Boulevard

 


Be Sure to Click on Images for Enlarged Views

Philadelphia Inquirer - January 24, 1900

Philadelphia Inquirer - April 10, 1909
Camillus Appley

Philadelphia Inquirer - April 28, 1922
Click on Images for PDF File of Entire Article
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
Click on Images for PDF File of Entire Article
Click on Images for PDF File of Entire Article

Camden Courier-Post - March 8, 1932

Charles Errickson  - Wallace Phifer - Adam Mead - Herbert Baxter Sr. - Edward Menzies - Engine Co. 8
South 9th Street - Ferry Avenue - Line Street - Atlantic Avenue - Sheridan Street - Liberty Street 
Berwick Street - Yorkship Square - V.I. Chestnut - Marvin Chestnut - Joseph Caputi

Camden Courier-Post * July 22, 1941
...continued...
...continued...
George E. Brunner - William C. Schriver - Leo G. Stephans - Sgt. Ray Smith
Fred Vogel - Samuel Shapiro -
James H. O'Brien - Albert C. Becker - Roy C. Adams
Burnell S. Hartman -
Michael Mungioli - Carrie R. Bean - Anne D. Spooner
Engine Company 1 - Engine Company 3 - Engine Company 7 - Engine Company 8
Engine Company 9 - Engine Company 10 - Engine Company 11
Engine Company 2 (Fire Headquarters)

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

2419 Arnold Street - April 20, 2005

A reported dwelling fire with a report on an infant trapped was dispatched in Camden City at 0042 hrs.  Engine 10, Squad 7, Engine 8, Ladder 2, Rescue 1, and Battalion 1 responded to 2419 Arnold Street.  Camden County Radio advised crews a neighbor reported that an infant was still inside on the 2nd floor.  Engine 10 arrived on location with heavy fire showing from division 2 of a 2 story middle of the row occupied dwelling.  Battalion 1 arrived and struck the all hands.  Battalion 1 also requested another engine and ladder crew.  Rescue 1 arrived and searched the dwelling with negative results.    Secondary searches also were negative.  Crews contained the fire to 1 unit with no exposure damage.  The cause of the blaze is under investigation by the Camden Fire Marshals. 

Story and Photo: Ted Aurig


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.

 

Click on Images for Enlarged and High Resolution Views

Many of the photographs on this website are from the limited edition book "Fire Department Camden NJ 125 Anniversary 1869-1994" and were taken by Department Photographer Bob Bartosz. Others are courtesy of Joel Bain of the Camden Fire Department.

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