Fireman Injured as Plant Burns

Camden Courier-Post, December 20, 1971

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Fireman Injured as Plant Burns By ROBERT N. SANDLER Courier-Post Staff A 36-year-old fireman, injured yesterday when the ladder from which he was battling a general-alarm fire at a vacant leather tanning plant in North Camden ripped from its base, was reported in satisfactory condition today in Cooper Hospital, Camden. Thomas DiBiaso, of 2840 Pierce Ave., Camden, was admitted to the hospital's Intensive Care Unit with multiple cuts, a broken wrist and elbow and a possible fracture of the skull. Witnesses said DiBiaso, a three-year veteran of the fire department, fell about 30 feet and landed on the roof of one plant building when the ladder separated from its base. A second fireman, David Sanders, 38, of 2943 Berkeley St., Camden, who was just starting up the ladder at the time, suffered only minor injuries.

DENSE smoke billows from former John R. Evans Company leather tanning plant in North Camden. Courier-Post Photo by Robert L. Cave

Camden Courier-Post, December 20, 1971

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—Courier-Post Photo by Robert L. Cave DENSE smoke billows from former John R. Evans Company leather tanning plant in North Camden. Empty Evans Building Destroyed Fireman Injured as Plant Burns Continued From Page One the aid of eight engines and four ladders, including one ladder truck from Westmont Fire Company No.1, fought the blaze in near-freezing temperatures for three and a half hours before it was declared under control at 6:55 p.m. by Fire Chief Frank Deal. According to Camden County Fire Coordinator Jack Plaskett, men and equipment from Audubon, Brooklawn, Gloucester City, Haddon Heights, Oaklyn, Pennsauken and Woodlynne were stationed in Camden city firehouses. Volunteers of America Firemen's Canteen was also at the scene. Cause Probed Fire officials said the cause of the fire was under investigation. Camden Mayor Joseph M. Nardi Jr. was among the dozens of residents who watched as the fire spread quickly through the 113-year-old brick and frame buildings. A two-story brick wall of one building collapsed. He called the fire "tragic." The Camden mayor said he had hoped the former leather plant would be used for a commercial warehouse. He added that a private corporation had considered construction of modular-type homes on the vacant waterfront lots adjacent to the leather plant. The five-building complex was sold to a New York firm in September, reportedly for use as a warehouse. One of Largest Before John R. Evans Co. went out of business last Feb. 26, it was one of the largest leather tanning companies in the area. Founded in 1858, Evans Leathers imported kidskins and other leathers from India, Africa, South America and other parts of the world. The plant, which at its peak in 1960 employed about 700 office, production and maintenance workers, processed $12 million worth of leathers for manufacture of shoes and handbags. According to James Bienkowski, who said he formerly worked for Evans Leathers, the buildingswere completely empty since last Friday, when he and others workers removed the last of the equipment for Johnson Machinery of Newark.

Camden Courier-Post - December 20, 1971

Empty Evans Building Destroyed

By ROBERT N. SANDLER, Courier-Post Staff

A 36-year-old fireman, injured yesterday when the ladder from which he was battling a general-alarm fire at a vacant leather tanning plant in North Camden ripped from its base, was reported in satisfactory condition today in Cooper Hospital, Camden.

Thomas DiBiaso, of 2840 Pierce Ave., Camden, was admitted to the hospital's Intensive Care Unit with multiple cuts, a broken wrist and elbow and a possible fracture of the skull.

Witnesses said DiBiaso, a three-year veteran of the fire department, fell about 30 feet and landed on the roof of one plant building when the ladder separated from its base. A second fireman, David Sanders, 38, of 2943 Berkeley St., Camden, who was just starting up the ladder at the time, suffered only minor injuries.

the aid of eight engines and four ladders, including one ladder truck from Westmont Fire Company No.1, fought the blaze in near-freezing temperatures for three and a half hours before it was declared under control at 6:55 p.m. by Fire Chief Frank Deal.

According to Camden County Fire Coordinator Jack Plaskett, men and equipment from Audubon, Brooklawn, Gloucester City, Haddon Heights, Oaklyn, Pennsauken and Woodlynne were stationed in Camden city firehouses. Volunteers of America Firemen's Canteen was also at the scene.

Cause Probed

Fire officials said the cause of the fire was under investigation.

Camden Mayor Joseph M. Nardi Jr. was among the dozens of residents who watched as the fire spread quickly through the 113-year-old brick and frame buildings. A two-story brick wall of one building collapsed.

He called the fire "tragic." The Camden mayor said he had hoped the former leather plant would be used for a commercial warehouse. He added that a private corporation had considered construction of modular-type homes on the vacant waterfront lots adjacent to the leather plant.

The five-building complex was sold to a New York firm in September, reportedly for use as a warehouse.

One of Largest

Before John R. Evans Co. went out of business last Feb. 26, it was one of the largest leather tanning companies in the area.

Founded in 1858, Evans Leathers imported kidskins and other leathers from India, Africa, South America and other parts of the world.

The plant, which at its peak in 1960 employed about 700 office, production and maintenance workers, processed $12 million worth of leathers for manufacture of shoes and handbags.

According to James Bienkowski, who said he formerly worked for Evans Leathers, the buildingswere completely empty since last Friday, when he and others workers removed the last of the equipment for Johnson Machinery of Newark.