10-21-12 (Camden County)GLOUCESTER CITY 408 Market Street - 3rd Alarm Dwelling

At around 0300 Squad 51 and Battalion 504 responded to area of 400 block of Market Street for smoke investigation. Upon the arrival in the area Battalion 504(M. Hagan) found a 3 story twin middle of block (408 Market Street) with heavy fire showing the number 2 and number 3 floor. The Battalion struck the all hands, requesting for the call back for the members, and additional Companies from Westville, Mount Ephraim, Audubon, and Bellmawr. Companies made entry into the dwelling which appeared to be vacant at the time; members from squad 51 began to push the stairwell, when they were forced to retreat to heavy fire conditions throughout the dwelling along with unstable structure issues. Companies went in service with large waterways including aerial operations. Quint 51 arrived and was placed in service. While additional companies arriving began checking the exposures. Crews were forced with heavy fire conditions in the rear of the dwelling for a period of time along with some exposure problems on the Bravo and Delta Sides of the dwelling. The Second due ladder did make excess to the bravo exposure, and went in-service opening up , the fire in the bravo exposure was held to a small area. The Delta Exposure was held to water and smoke damage. No injuries were reported and the fire was placed under control around 0600. Camden County Fire Marshal’s Office and Camden County Prosecutors Office were on scene for the fire investigation. A third alarm was requested in totaled and a task force was staged at Gloucester City High School for coverage of surrounding communities involved in the fire.

Photos By William Rieger III