Three Alarm Fire at the Ivy Hill Apartments

By Camden NJ History

January 13, 2014 · Updated September 8, 2026 · 2 min read · Historical Accounts

January 13, 2014

This page and the other pages in this series are the successors to the series of web-page about the Camden Fire Department. On this and other pages in the series you will find pictures and information regarding different events and aspects of the fire service in Camden, New Jersey.

The retirements at the end of 2013 of Captain Manny Martinez and Captain Ramon Melendez opened the door for the promotion of two of Camden's Bravest. Two men who had most recently served with Squad Company 7 were elevated in rank. Miguel Ramos was assigned to Ladder 1 Company 1 at Fire headquarters, and Daniel Seybert was posted to Engine Company 11 in Cramer Hill.

I made it a point of being at each firehouse for the new Captain's first 7:00 AM roll call. Captain Ramos' first day was on January 13, and he caught two working fires on his first tour, one on Clover Street in South Camden and the second a three alarm fire in the Ivy Hill Apartments on Chase Street. Prior commitments took me out of the city when the Clover Street fire was being dealt with. I was able to get into the city for the second fire, arriving on scene shortly after the second alarm went out. The first photo was taken at 4:18 PM, the last at 4:49 PM.

About this fire, Battalion Chief 1 reported heavy fire second floor of a two story garden style apartment building, and placed all hands in service on arrival. The fire extended into the attic and the exposures, the second alarm was requested. Truck companies opened the roof, multiple hand lines were placed in service in several apartments. The third alarm was requested, and companies from Pennsauken, Collingswood, Gloucester City, and Cherry Hill responded. Firefighters encountered heavy smoke conditions while going through multiple apartments. Fortunately, all searched proved negative and no injuries were sustained by fire service personnel. A number of families, however, were rendered homeless.
Phil Cohen, February 18, 2014