Camden Courier-Post, December 22, 1961View transcription
Flames Rake Warehouse in East Camden
A two-alarm fire raged out of control in an East Camden warehouse for an hour Thursday night.
The warehouse, at 14 S. 35th st., an L-shaped annex to the Cartun Hardware Store, 36th and Federal sts., was formerly a feed store and is now used to store paints, plumbing supplies and other merchandise.
Irving Cartun of 2601 Parkway, Philadelphia, proprietor, reported that the warehouse inventory was valued at an estimated $15,000. Cartun said he had not yet determined the extent of his loss.
According to Cartun, there were 10,000 to 12,000 gallons of paint stored in one-gallon cans in the warehouse.
Fireman Injured
Joseph H. Arensberg, 25, of 1041 N. 32nd st., a hoseman with Engine Company 11, was injured slightly when a door in the flaming warehouse fell on his leg. He was treated at Cooper Hospital.
Robert D. Halsey, 23, of 41 N. 36th st., a clerk in the store, and Capt. Otto Kaiser of Engine Company 11 assisted Arensberg from the scene.
The fire was discovered because of an experiment linking traditional Christmas caroling with electronic gadgetry.
James E. Wright of 17 S. 35th st., his son James Jr., 14, Mrs. Coleman Rosenberg of 16 S. 35th st., and her daughter, Merle, 12, were standing outside their homes listening to recorded Christmas carols through an outdoor amplifier system that the elder Wright had rigged.
They saw smoke billowing from the one and a half story frame and shingle warehouse and the younger Wright sounded a box alarm at about 8 p.m.
Second Alarm Sounded
Engine Companies 9 and 11 and Truck Company 3 answered the call. At 8:28 p.m., a second alarm was sounded bringing Deputy Fire Chief Harry Wagner, Engine Companies 2 and 7, Truck Company 1, and Rescue Squad 1 to the scene.
The fire was declared under control at 9 p.m. and extinguished at 9:15 p.m.
Firemen were hampered in reaching the blaze by a corrugated tin ceiling which separated the main floor of the warehouse from the half floor or attic section, where the fire raged at its worst.
Flames burst through the outside wall and roof of the warehouse, when firemen chopped holes there in order to get a hose into the blazing attic.
Sparks Shower Roofs
Sparks showered the rooftops of the homes of Mrs. Rosenberg and her sister Mrs. Calvin Miller of 18 S. 35th st.
Police had already evacuated Mrs. Miller and her three children Robin, 9, Wendy, 7, and Elyse, 5.
According to police Robin refused to leave her house until her pet cat "Snoozy" was found. "Snoozy" was located hiding under a sofa.
The fire was confined, however, to the warehouse.
Wall Blocks Flames
A fire door between the warehouse and the store prevented the fire from spreading into the store. However the intense smoke drove several customers into the street.
Pennsauken residents reported that smoke from the blaze penetrated their homes, almost a mile away.
A major traffic tie-up was averted when cars were detoured off Federal st. at 34th and 37th sts.
Major William Gwynne of the Volunteers of America was at the scene serving coffee and doughnuts to the firefighters.
SMOKE BILLOWS through the roof of Cartun Hardware Store's warehouse as two groups of firemen bring hoses to bear on the blaze which was fed by an estimated 10,000 to 12,000 gallons of paint. —Courier-Post PhotoView transcription
SMOKE BILLOWS through the roof of Cartun Hardware Store's warehouse as two groups of firemen bring hoses to bear on the blaze which was fed by an estimated 10,000 to 12,000 gallons of paint.
—Courier-Post Photo
Camden Courier-Post, December 22, 1961 — continued from page oneView transcription
Fire
(Continued From Page One)
carols through an outdoor amplifier system that the elder Wright had rigged.
They saw smoke billowing from the one and a half story frame and shingle warehouse and the younger Wright sounded a box alarm at about 8 p.m.
Second Alarm Sounded
Engine Companies 9 and 11 and Truck Company 3 answered the call. At 8:28 p.m., a second alarm was sounded bringing Deputy Fire Chief Harry Wagner, Engine Companies 2 and 7, Truck Company 1, and Rescue Squad 1 to the scene.
The fire was declared under control at 9 p.m. and extinguished at 9:15 p.m.
Firemen were hampered in reaching the blaze by a corrugated tin ceiling which separated the main floor of the warehouse from the half floor or attic section, where the fire raged at its worst.
Flames burst through the outside wall and roof of the warehouse, when firemen chopped holes there in order to get a hose into the blazing attic.
Sparks Shower Roofs
Sparks showered the rooftops of the homes of Mrs. Rosenberg and her sister Mrs. Calvin Miller of 18 S. 35th st.
Police had already evacuated Mrs. Miller and her three children Robin, 9, Wendy, 7, and Elyse, 5.
According to police Robin refused to leave her house until her pet cat "Snoozy" was found. "Snoozy" was located hiding under a sofa.
The fire was confined, however, to the warehouse.
Wall Blocks Flames
A fire door between the warehouse and the store prevented the fire from spreading into the store. However the intense smoke drove several customers into the street.
Pennsauken residents reported that smoke from the blaze penetrated their homes, almost a mile away.
A major traffic tie-up was averted when cars were detoured off Federal st. at 34th and 37th sts.
Major William Gwynne of the Volunteers of America was at the scene serving coffee and doughnuts to the firefighters.
A two-alarm fire raged out of control in an East Camden warehouse for an hour Thursday night.
The warehouse, at 14 S. 35th st., an L-shaped annex to the Cartun Hardware Store, 36th and Federal sts., was formerly a feed store and is now used to store paints, plumbing supplies and other merchandise.
Irving Cartun of 2601 Parkway, Philadelphia, proprietor, reported that the warehouse inventory was valued at an estimated $15,000. Cartun said he had not yet determined the extent of his loss.
According to Cartun, there were 10,000 to 12,000 gallons of paint stored in one-gallon cans in the warehouse.
Fireman Injured
Joseph H. Arensberg, 25, of 1041 N. 32nd st., a hoseman with Engine Company 11, was injured slightly when a door in the flaming warehouse fell on his leg. He was treated at Cooper Hospital.
Robert D. Halsey, 23, of 41 N. 36th st., a clerk in the store, and Capt. Otto Kaiser of Engine Company 11 assisted Arensberg from the scene.
The fire was discovered because of an experiment linking traditional Christmas caroling with electronic gadgetry.
James E. Wright of 17 S. 35th st., his son James Jr., 14, Mrs. Coleman Rosenberg of 16 S. 35th st., and her daughter, Merle, 12, were standing outside their homes listening to recorded Christmas carols through an outdoor amplifier system that the elder Wright had rigged.
They saw smoke billowing from the one and a half story frame and shingle warehouse and the younger Wright sounded a box alarm at about 8 p.m.
Second Alarm Sounded
Engine Companies 9 and 11 and Truck Company 3 answered the call. At 8:28 p.m., a second alarm was sounded bringing Deputy Fire Chief Harry Wagner, Engine Companies 2 and 7, Truck Company 1, and Rescue Squad 1 to the scene.
The fire was declared under control at 9 p.m. and extinguished at 9:15 p.m.
Firemen were hampered in reaching the blaze by a corrugated tin ceiling which separated the main floor of the warehouse from the half floor or attic section, where the fire raged at its worst.
Flames burst through the outside wall and roof of the warehouse, when firemen chopped holes there in order to get a hose into the blazing attic.
Sparks Shower Roofs
Sparks showered the rooftops of the homes of Mrs. Rosenberg and her sister Mrs. Calvin Miller of 18 S. 35th st.
Police had already evacuated Mrs. Miller and her three children Robin, 9, Wendy, 7, and Elyse, 5.
According to police Robin refused to leave her house until her pet cat “Snoozy” was found. “Snoozy” was located hiding under a sofa.
The fire was confined, however, to the warehouse.
Wall Blocks Flames
A fire door between the warehouse and the store prevented the fire from spreading into the store. However the intense smoke drove several customers into the street.
Pennsauken residents reported that smoke from the blaze penetrated their homes, almost a mile away.
A major traffic tie-up was averted when cars were detoured off Federal st. at 34th and 37th sts.
Major William Gwynne of the Volunteers of America was at the scene serving coffee and doughnuts to the firefighters.
