Westmont

7-20-09 205 Emerald Ave - 2nd Alarm Dwelling

A dwelling fire box was dispatched at 7:07 p.m.  Camden County Communications notified responding units they were receiving multiple calls for a house on fire.  Assistant Chief Vitelli reported from several blocks away heavy smoke in the area transmitting the all hands. Upon arrival Command reported heavy fire conditions on the 2^nd floor of a 2 ½ story wood frame twin dwelling.  Engine 1512 arrived and let off with a 2 ½” hand line on the 2^nd floor.  Squirt 15-1 secured a water supply for 1512, and placed a 1 ¾” hand line in operation in the exposure.  Ladder 15-1 placed ground ladders and performed ventilation operations. Interior crews reported heavy fire conditions on the 2^nd floor of the original fire building with extension in to the attic of the exposure and heavy smoke throughout.  All occupants were out of the dwellings and accounted for.  One dog was also removed from the dwelling unharmed.    At the 10 minute mark, Command ordered the evacuation tones to bring all firefighters out of the building and set up for defensive operations as conditions worsened.  The 2^nd Alarm was sounded.  At the 20 minute mark Command reported companies were in operations with a 2 ½”, 1 ¾” hand lines as well as the Ladder Pipe to know the bulk of the fire down.  Companies remained in defensive operations as the fire was brought under control at the 1 hour mark.  Companies from Collingswood, Oaklyn, Audubon and Cherry Hill assisted Westmont Firefighters bring the blaze under control.  No firefighter injuries were reported on the fire ground.  Westmont units remained on location hitting hot spots till midnight. The Camden County Fire Marshals Office and Westmont Fire Company have the fire under investigation. 

6-9-09 - Storm Damage

At 8 a.m a severe storm rolled through Camden County.  The 911 center was being flooded with calls as crews throughout the county were being dispatched for  down trees and wires in every town.  Westmont firefighters were called to over 20 incidents within the hour.  Multiple trees were up routed and toppled over in almost a straight line across the town. Firefighters secured the area and checked for structural damage.  No injuries were reported during the storm.

 6-1-09 427 W. Crystal Lake Ave - Vehicle

At 12:30 p.m., Westmont’s Engine 1512 was dispatched to 427 W. Crystal Lake Ave, to the rear of the bar, for a vehicle fire.  Engine 1512 arrived to find a truck with an attached trailer heavily involved.  The crew placed a 1 ¾” hand line in operation as a water supply was secured. No injuries were reported.  The Camden County Fire Marshals have the fire under investigation.

1-18-09 87 Emerald Ave- All Hands Dwelling (Story by Dan Devitt Photos by Bill Rieger)

At 1337 hours Station 15-1 and BLS 1557 were dispatched to 87 Emerald Avenue for a reported dwelling fire. Squirt 15-1 responded under the command of Lieutenant Bob Callahan, arrived 3 minutes after dispatch and reported heavy smoke showing and led off with a 1 ¾" hand-line. Chief John Medes arrived on location and transmitted the "All-Hands" signal bringing Engine 1613 to the scene. Squirt 15-1 established their own water supply. Ladder 15-1 responded under the command of Captain Bill Tessing 3rd and upon arrival opened up for the Engine crew.  Engine 1512 responded under the command of Lieutenant Dan Devitt and upon arrival established a secondary water supply for Squirt 15-1 then assisted interior crews with opening up. At the ten minute mark Chief Medes reported bulk of the fire contained in the living room and was knocked down with companies opening up. Engine 1613 arrived and assumed the FAST for the assignment. Chief Medes then placed the fire under control at the twenty minute mark.  The fire is under investigation by the Haddon Township and Camden County Fire Marshals Office.

9-19-08 White Horse Pike- Vehicle into Building

A motor vehicle accident was dispatched in Haddon Township involving pedestrians.  Westmont’s Engine and BLS along with a Camden County ALS unit were dispatched to the scene. Police arrived and reported a vehicle drove off the roadway, unto a sidewalk, struck a pedestrian and crashed into a building. Collingswood BLS was added as Police confirmed 2 injuries. The Pedestrian and the Driver were both treated and transported to area hospitals.  The Engine Company checked stability of the building. The Haddon Township Police Department have the accident under investigation.

9-17-08 Haddon & Cuthbert Blvd. - Vehicle

Crews were called to Haddon and Cuthbert Blvd. for a vehicle fire on the border of Haddon Township and Collingswood.  Command 1510 arrived and confirmed a engine compartment fire.  Engine 1613 arrived and went in operation with a 1 3/4” hand line to contain the fire to the engine compartment.  No injuries were reported on the fire ground.

5-30-08  WESTMONT - 210 Cuthbert Blvd   2nd Alarm Dwelling

At 22:31 hours a call was received to 911 by a neighbor reporting a fire at 210 Cuthbert Rd.  The caller stated the rear of the house was on fire.  A 2^nd call was received as well.Station 15-1(Westmont) was dispatched for the dwelling fire.  Police arrived and reported the house to be fully involved.  At 22:35, 15105 arrived and reported a 2 ½” story, heavy fire thru the roof requesting the all hands.  Squirt 15-1 arrived and went in operation with a 2 ½” hand line. 15101 arrived and assumed command.  At the 10 minute mark Command reported heavy fire conditions and ordered the emergency evacuation.  Crews exited the dwelling and set up for defensive operations.  At 22:45 the 2^nd alarm was sounded.  At the 20 minute mark, Command reported 1 Tower Ladder in service with multiple hand lines.  At the 30 minute mark, Command reported 2 Ladder Pipes in operation with multiple hand lines with heavy fire conditions.  The fire was brought under control at 23:46 hours.  No injuries were reported on the fire ground.  The fire is under investigation by the Camden County Fire Marshals Office.

12-5-07 - 209 Norwood Ave - All Hands Garage

On a snowy December 5^th, 2007 around 1 p.m., Station 15-1(Westmont) was dispatched for a garage fire at 209 Norwood Ave.   Command arrived and reported a detached garage with heavy smoke showing.  The all hands was sounded adding Rescue 1615 as the R.I.T company and the County Fire Marshal.  Engine 1512 arrived and went in operation with a 1 ¾” hand line.  Crews quickly located the fire, prior to it spreading to the rest of the garage.  Crews opened up and checked for extension.The home owners stated they used that part of the garage to make holiday wreaths.  They were not home at the time of the fire.  No injuries were reported on the fire ground.

07-11-07 413 Crestwood Ave- All Hands Dwelling (Story and Photos by Bob Chester)

In the middle of a severe thunderstorm Task Force 15 was dispatched to 413
Crestwood Avenue for a dwelling fire.As units signed on Camden County
Communications advised 15101 that they were receiving numerous calls of a house
struck by lightning. First arriving reported smoke from the upper floor of a
single family dwelling.Squirt 15 was first due, and laid in from a hydrant.
Crews led off with 1 3/4 hand lines.At the 10 minute mark interior reported a
heavy smoke condition on the upper floor and they were searching for the
fire.Ladder 15 arrived, laddered the dwelling and vented the roof and attic
vents. The fire was placed under control in under 30 minutes.There were no
reported injuries, and the fire remains under investigation by the Camden County
Fire Marshals Office.

5-13-07 Haddon Ave- Vehicle vs Building

Minutes before midnight,  Station 15-1(Westmont) was dispatched for a building fire at Wow Video on Haddon Ave.  Camden County Radio advised responding units a vehicle crashed through the building and that the building was possibly on fire.Command arrived and reported a vehicle which crashed through the front of the building and that the building was not on fire.  Command also reported it was dust from the collision and not smoke.Police stated it was a 2 car accident in the parking lot which caused 1 vehicle to loose control and crash though the building.No injuries were reported.

01-29-07 88 Emerald Ave - 2nd Alarm Dwelling (Photos by Bob Chester)

Around 2am Station 15-1 was disaptched for a reported dwelling fire.  Police arrived and reported a working fire.  The All hands was sounded by Chief Morgan on arrival and reported a 2 1/2 story single family dwelling with heavy fire showing from the 1st floor.  Engine 1512 arrived and went in operation with a 1 3/4" handline as well as secured a water supply.  Rescue 1615 from Collingswood was added as the fast team.

30 minutes into the job the 2nd alarm was transmitted due to heavy fire conditions in the attic Crews switched from a offensive mode to defensive and went in operation with multiple 2 1/2 hanlines.  Crews battled the  blaze in freezing temp's. 

No injuries were reported.  The fire is believed to be an electrical fire which started on the first floor. 

1-2-07 129 Utica Ave - All Hands (Story by Dan Devitt)

On Tuesday January 2nd at 1341 hours, Station 151 and BLS 1557 were dispatched to 129 Utica Avenue for a reported dwelling fire. Engine 1512 quickly responded under the command of Lieutenant John Young and was given the report of a possible kitchen fire. While en route, 1512 was updated with numerous calls being received by Camden County Communications reporting smoke showing from the rear of the dwelling. Assistant Chief John Medes (15103) arrived after that report, confirmed smoke showing and gave the orders for Engine 1512 to lead off with an 1 3/4" handline on arrival. Engine 1512 arrived and went into operation. 15103 reported he had a 2 1/2 story wood frame dwelling with fire in the rear of the first floor. Haddon Township P.D. and Public Works assisted the chauffer of Engine 1512 to stretch 4" 200' to the hydrant at the corner of Center Street and Utica Avenue. Ladder Tower 1514 responded under the command of Captain Frank Jackson and quickly arrived on scene and went inside to vent. Assistant Chief Medes then requested the "All-Hands" signal to be transmitted bringing Rescue 1615 as F.A.S.T. along with a special call for Engine 1612 for additional manpower. Engine 1513 responded under the command of Captain Mike Vitelli, stretched an additional 1 3/4" handline and went to the 2nd floor to open up and check for extension. Engine 1612 and Rescue 1615 arrived and formed a manpower pool to the rear of Engine 1512. Captain Vitelli reported no extension to the 2nd floor and the fire was placed under control shortly thereafter. All companied remained on location for over an hour. One civilian received a minor injury and no Firefighters were hurt. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Haddon Township and Camden County Fire Marshals Office

7-20-06 54 Melrose Ave - All Hands Dwelling Fire

Station 15-1 was dispatched for a report of a dwelling fire around 3 a.m.Police arrived on scene and confirmed a working fire. Fire Chief Morgan arrived to find a 1-story, single-family dwelling with heavy smoke throughout. The all-hands was requested, adding Rescue 1615 from Collingswood as the F.A.S.T. assignment.Engine 1512 arrived and led off with a handline. The second-due engine arrived and established a water supply. Searches were performed with negative results. Crews found fire conditions in the rear of the dwelling and the fire was placed under control around the 30-minute mark.The homeowner was not home at the time of the fire. The blaze is under investigation by the Camden County Fire Marshal's Office.

3-21-06 New Engine

Westmont's new Engine 1512 the day it arrived.

10-07-05 - 18 Center St. - 2nd alarm Dwelling Fire (story and photos by Greg Taylor)

The afternoon of October 7^th, 2005 Westmont Fire Company was dispatched to 18 Center Street for a reported dwelling fire.  Engine 1511 signed on an it was reported to them as a possible microwave fire in the kitchen with PD on location reporting light smoke showing from a window at Division A.  Camden County Communications Started the ISAT team with PD report.  Engine 1511 arrived to find heavy fire showing from division C with exposure problems.  Engine 1511 led off with 2 1 Ā¾ handlines and dropped a 4ā€¯ supply line.  Command 1510 advised County to dispatch All Hands and the 2^nd Alarm.  Rescue Co. 1615 was dispatched as RIT and Station 14-1 was dispatched as 2^nd Alarm companies.  Interior crews found Heavy Fire condition found in the kitchen area and 2^nd and 3^rd floors in the rear of the dwelling.  Crews also faced a cedar shake roof which made ventilation extensive.  Fire was placed under control approximately 2 hours after dispatch.  The homeowner was seen and transported to hospital for smoke inhalation, no firefighter injuries were reported.

Engine 1511, Squad 1557 and Medics were dispatched for a reported car into the building at the restraunt.  Upon arrival of the Engine, crews found a blazer inside the restraunt.  Crews worked to shore the building.  No occupants inside the restraunt were hurt.  Driver had minor injuries but refused transport.