Camden Courier-Post, March 8, 1967View transcription
Fire Destroys Toy Shop, 2 South Camden Homes
Blaze Rages 4 Hours
By JAMES RIGGIO
Courier-Post Staff
—Courier-Post Photo by James Stewart
GENERAL ALARM FIRE sweeps out of control in the 600 block of S. Broadway. Six firemen were injured battling wind-whipped flames which engulfed a warehouse and threatened entire block.
A general-alarm fire swept through a Camden warehouse and showroom for four hours last night and destroyed two nearby residences before almost 100 firemen brought it under control.
The blaze destroyed the L-shaped building at 613 Broadway which housed Anthony Corradetti Sales Enterprises, distributors of toys, novelties and household goods. No estimate of the loss was available.
A second-story apartment atop the firm also was destroyed, and an adjoining house at 527 Line Street was damaged badly by the flames.
Left Homeless
Mrs. Rose Young, 26, who lived in the apartment at 529 Line Street with her three small children, escaped the blaze which left them homeless and took shelter with nearby friends.
Louis Iatarola, 57, who lived in the house at 527 Line Street with his two sisters, Carolyn and Lena, said his family would take refuge with relatives.
Mr. and Mrs. John Luciani were ordered by firemen to evacuate their home at 525 Line Street because of the danger from the heavy smoke.
The Luciani house, separated from the burning building by a narrow alley, was not touched by the flames.
Spotted by Cops
The first call was sounded at 4:42 p.m. when Ptl. Richard Hailey and Thomas Penn spotted smoke coming from the building. Hailey, a former employe of the Corradetti firm,
Continued on Page 3—Col. 3
Related Fire Stories, Photo on Page 17
Fire Wrecks Toy Shop, Two City Homes
(Continued From Page One)
radioed the alarm from the patrol wagon then he and Penn rushed inside to warn the occupants of the building.
Clar Puke, the store manager, said he noticed the smoke rising from the basement through a floor hatch. He said he was almost overcome by the thick smoke when he entered the basement, but managed to warn six other employes who ran from the building.
The first call brought two engine companies and a ladder company and the heavy duty rescue squad under Battalion Chief Anthony Saponare.
Second Alarm
The second call, sounded several minutes later, was responded to by two additional engine companies and another ladder company under Battalion Chief Theodore Primas, according to Fire Chief Edward V. Michalak, who also had arrived on the scene.
By 6:32 p.m., all the city's nine engine companies and three ladder companies were thrown into action against the blaze, according to Michalak.
He said about 100 firemen including 35 off-duty members were on hand to fight the flames, which sent billows of black smoke into the sky above Broadway.
Michalak also issued a mutual assistance call which brought fire fighting equipment from other nearby communities to man Camden's firehouse while the city's men and equipment were tied up.
4 Firemen Treated
Four city firemen were taken to Cooper Hospital where they were treated and released for injuries and smoke inhalation. All reported back to the fire and continued work in fighting the blaze.
Michalak said firemen had extreme difficulty in reaching the blaze, which started in the basement, because of ceiling-high piles of merchandise which blocked passage and prevented good ventilation.
He said there will be an investigation into the manner in which the materials were stored in the building.
Goods Feed Fire
Large quantities of paper goods, plastic and rubber products, chemical charcoal fire starters and other highly flammable substances fed the fire and gave off heavy smoke and poisonous fumes, according to Michalak.
Exploding aerosol cans sounded like Fourth of July fireworks as firemen poured thousands of gallons of water onto the flames.
Hoses sprayed the fire from Broadway, Line Street on the east side, and Williams Street in the rear of the building.
Break Through Roof
As firemen battled the blaze, flames broke through the roof of the structure at several points, lighting up the early evening sky.
Flood light units from the Camden Electrical Bureau and the Gloucester City Rescue Squad aided firemen as darkness fell.
Angelo Errochetti, director of public works, was at the scene and said he ordered the city's water system opened full force to maintain a 48-pound pressure in the hydrants which fed the fire hoses.
Michalak declared the fire under control at 8:40 p.m., but said several companies would remain at the scene throughout the night to prevent a further flareup.
—Courier-Post Photo by James Stewart
SEA OF SMOKE engulfs fireman manning hoseline high above general alarm blaze in S. Broadway warehouse. But he's on an aerial ladder—not floating on a space platform.
Blaze Rages 4 Hours
By JAMES RIGGIO
Courier-Post Staff
—Courier-Post Photo by James Stewart
GENERAL ALARM FIRE sweeps out of control in the 600 block of S. Broadway. Six firemen were injured battling wind-whipped flames which engulfed a warehouse and threatened entire block.
A general-alarm fire swept through a Camden warehouse and showroom for four hours last night and destroyed two nearby residences before almost 100 firemen brought it under control.
The blaze destroyed the L-shaped building at 613 Broadway which housed Anthony Corradetti Sales Enterprises, distributors of toys, novelties and household goods. No estimate of the loss was available.
A second-story apartment atop the firm also was destroyed, and an adjoining house at 527 Line Street was damaged badly by the flames.
Left Homeless
Mrs. Rose Young, 26, who lived in the apartment at 529 Line Street with her three small children, escaped the blaze which left them homeless and took shelter with nearby friends.
Louis Iatarola, 57, who lived in the house at 527 Line Street with his two sisters, Carolyn and Lena, said his family would take refuge with relatives.
Mr. and Mrs. John Luciani were ordered by firemen to evacuate their home at 525 Line Street because of the danger from the heavy smoke.
The Luciani house, separated from the burning building by a narrow alley, was not touched by the flames.
Spotted by Cops
The first call was sounded at 4:42 p.m. when Ptl. Richard Hailey and Thomas Penn spotted smoke coming from the building. Hailey, a former employe of the Corradetti firm, radioed the alarm from the patrol wagon then he and Penn rushed inside to warn the occupants of the building.
Clar Puke, the store manager, said he noticed the smoke rising from the basement through a floor hatch. He said he was almost overcome by the thick smoke when he entered the basement, but managed to warn six other employes who ran from the building.
The first call brought two engine companies and a ladder company and the heavy duty rescue squad under Battalion Chief Anthony Saponare.
Second Alarm
The second call, sounded several minutes later, was responded to by two additional engine companies and another ladder company under Battalion Chief Theodore Primas, according to Fire Chief Edward V. Michalak, who also had arrived on the scene.
By 6:32 p.m., all the city's nine engine companies and three ladder companies were thrown into action against the blaze, according to Michalak.
He said about 100 firemen including 35 off-duty members were on hand to fight the flames, which sent billows of black smoke into the sky above Broadway.
Michalak also issued a mutual assistance call which brought fire fighting equipment from other nearby communities to man Camden's firehouse while the city's men and equipment were tied up.
4 Firemen Treated
Four city firemen were taken to Cooper Hospital where they were treated and released for injuries and smoke inhalation. All reported back to the fire and continued work in fighting the blaze.
Michalak said firemen had extreme difficulty in reaching the blaze, which started in the basement, because of ceiling-high piles of merchandise which blocked passage and prevented good ventilation.
He said there will be an investigation into the manner in which the materials were stored in the building.
Goods Feed Fire
Large quantities of paper goods, plastic and rubber products, chemical charcoal fire starters and other highly flammable substances fed the fire and gave off heavy smoke and poisonous fumes, according to Michalak.
Exploding aerosol cans sounded like Fourth of July fireworks as firemen poured thousands of gallons of water onto the flames.
As firemen battled the blaze, flames broke through the roof of the structure at several points, lighting up the early evening sky.
Flood light units from the Camden Electrical Bureau and the Gloucester City Rescue Squad aided firemen as darkness fell.
Angelo Errochetti [sic], director of public works, was at the scene and said he ordered the city's water system opened full force to maintain a 48-pound pressure in the hydrants which fed the fire hoses.
Michalak declared the fire under control at 8:40 p.m., but said several companies would remain at the scene throughout the night to prevent a further flareup.
Related Fire Stories, Photo on Page 17
—Courier-Post Photo by James Stewart
SEA OF SMOKE engulfs fireman manning hoseline high above general alarm blaze in S. Broadway warehouse. But he's on an aerial ladder—not floating on a space platform.
