Bravest Respond to Camden City, NJ Working Fire

By Camden NJ History

October 14, 2003 · Updated June 7, 2026 · 1 min read · Historical Accounts

Fire at 117 Birch Street, October 14, 2003 — photo by Ted Auig

Night view down a narrow brick alley toward a bright orange glow of fire behind a wooden fence and trees. — Fire at 117 Birch Street, October 14, 2003 — photo by Ted Auig

Fire at 117 Birch Street, October 14, 2003

Flames glowing in an upper window of a dark brick rowhouse, with utility wires and a wrought-iron railing nearby. — Fire at 117 Birch Street, October 14, 2003

Fire at 117 Birch Street, October 14, 2003

A Camden fire apparatus with lights flashing on a wet street at night, surrounded by smoke. — Fire at 117 Birch Street, October 14, 2003

Fire at 117 Birch Street, October 14, 2003

A firefighter in a white helmet and turnout gear speaks into a radio at night, with other firefighters and a fire truck behind him. — Fire at 117 Birch Street, October 14, 2003

Fire at 117 Birch Street, October 14, 2003

Firefighters on a sidewalk at night directing a hose stream at a smoking row of brick houses. — Fire at 117 Birch Street, October 14, 2003

In the early hours of Saturday, the Camden City Fire Department was dispatched to a reported house fire at 117 Birch Street.

Battalion 2 arrived to find heavy fire conditions in a vacant twin with fire through the roof. Battalion 2 struck the all-hands on arrival.

Interior attacks were changed to exterior operations at the command of Battalion 2 with danger of the front wall threatening to collapse. A second ladder company was called to service for the tower.

No injuries were reported. This was the city's second working job in two hours.

Units involved: Battalion 2, Battalion 1 — Engine 1, Engine 6, Engine 11 — Ladder 1, Ladder 3 — Rescue 1

— Ted Auig, October 14, 2003

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