11-26-09 10 Chapel Ave - All Hands Dwelling

On Thanksgiving Night,  a dwelling fire was reported in Merchantville at 6:55 p.m at 10 Chapel Ave. As Merchantville Companies were responding Camden County Communications advised units they were receiving multiple calls of a fire with possible occupants trapped.  ALS and BLS were added to the box. Merchantville’s Chief 12901 arrived on location and reported a 2 ½ story, single family wood frame dwelling with heavy fire showing from the A-D corner.  Engine 1292 arrived on location and let off with a 1 ¾” hand line to find heavy fire conditions on the first floor with extension to the 2^nd.  Companies searched the house to find no occupants inside. Command struck the all hands box.  Special calls were made above the all hands. Crews placed three hand lines in operation.  Ladder 12-9 opened up to find fire conditions in the walls.  The fire was placed under control in 1 hour.  No injuries were reported on the fire ground. Mutual aid from Pennsauken, Maple Shade and Westmont were added to the box.  Cherry Hill Rehab was also called to the scene.  The Camden County Fire Marshal’s Office has the fire under investigation at this time.

6-15-09 Chapel- Reustle - High Angle Rescue

At 10:45 A.M. Merchantville and Pennsauken companies were dispatched to Chapel and Reustle Ave’s for a rescue assignment.  Crews arrived to find a tree trimmer who was electrocuted while working on a tree, and was stuck 40 feet in the tree.  ALS made patient contact via ground ladder to find the occupant conscious and alert with burns on his arm.  PSEG was called with a rush to secure the power to the area to allow access to be made to the pt.  Pennsauken’s Ladder Company worked from the bucket to bring the victim down. Pennsauken BLS and Camden County ALS treated and transported the victim to Cooper Trauma unit.  The victim was later transferred to a burn unit in PA.  A witness stated he saw the whole thing happen from across the street.  He said it was like a fire ball when the branches came in contact with the power lines. 

5-25-07 West End Ave - All Hands Dwelling (Story and Photos by Bob Chester)

 Station 12-9,Quint 11-6, and BLS 1288 were dispatched to a
report of a dwelling fire on the unit block of West End Avenue. Pennsauken Chief
Mattera (1101) arrived and reported fire showing from the second floor of one
half of a three story twin , and struck the all hands. Engine 1292 went in
operation with an 1 - 3/4 hand line and Engine 1191 laid in from a hydrant on
Maple Avenue. Quint 116 and Ladder 129 assisted 1292 crew and opened up. The all
hands bought Pennsauken Engine 1191,Pennsauken Squad 11-1 on the FAST, and
Pennsauken Cascade 11.Pennsauken Station 11-3 was special called for man
power,along with Cherry Hill Engine 1352, and Rescue 1375. The fire was placed
under control approximately 40 minutes into the job. One injury to a resident
was reported, he was transported to Cooper Hospital.Additional BLS units were
dispatched from Pennsauken and Cherry Hill. The Camden County Fire Marshals
Office is investigating the origin and cause of the fire.