June 1, 2008 — The Last House on Borton Street Lost to Fire

Camden, NJ Fire Fighters Save Minnie Mouse From Blazing Dwelling

Shortly after 1:30 p.m. on June 1, 2008 Camden New Jersey fire fighters were dispatched to the 500 block of Borton Street in the North Camden section of the City for a reported dwelling fire. As the companies were responding fire radio gave an update that they were receiving numerous calls for a working fire. A large column of smoke was seen in the sky as the first due units turned the corner they reported that they had a two story vacant vandalized dwelling with heavy fire showing, and that they were going into service with a 2½ inch line.

Due to the condition of the building an exterior attack was being made. Within 10 minutes the bulk of the fire was knocked down and an unusual event took place. A fire fighter found an unconscious figure of Minnie Mouse laying in the rear of the dwelling. Fire fighter Javier Matos of Ladder Company 3 knew that something had to be done to save Minnie. To the delight of his brother fire fighters, fire fighter Matos removed his face mask and placed it on Minnie Mouse. Within a few minutes Minnie Mouse was revived and a loud cheer went up applauding fire fighter Matos for his gallant bravery saving the life of one of the country's National Heroines.

Someone hollered "Where is Mickey Mouse"???

Members of Ladder Co. 1 immediately made a secondary search of the burned out dwelling but were unable to find any signs of Mickey Mouse. The matter was turned over to the Fire Marshal's office to find out why Minnie Mouse was in this section of the City without Mickey by her side. As one fire fighter put it "A lot of strange things happen in this City" and this was one of them.