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The Westville Fire Department serves the Borough
Of Westville in Gloucester County, New Jersey along the
Delaware River across from the City of Philadelphia. The
department operates with a Board of Fire Commissioners
which provide funding through taxation to serve and
protect the community. Forty volunteer firefighters, two
career firefighters, a fire marshal's office and a fire
official make up the department.
The Westville Fire Department protects residential,
commercial and industrial locations as well as four
major roadways, one major rail line and a major shipping
lane in the borough. Along with protecting those who
reside, work, and travel in the borough of Westville,
the department also covers the New Jersey Turnpike
between Exits 2 & 3, as well as serving numerous
communities through automatic-aid agreements. |
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Westville Fire Department Local News/Events |
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Support
Westville Fire Department
Come Support the Westville Fire Department At
the Westville Fireworks Display
June 27th 2008 from 5pm till the start of the
fireworks
The firemen will have a dunk tank on hand and
t-shirts for sale for $10.00
Come out and show your Support before the
fireworks on River Dr in Westville.
Special Congratulations
To
Brittany Tunnicliffe and Jon Wolfe
On their graduation from Gateway Regional High
School--Class of 2009
Both Brittany and Jon are Children of Members
Gary Tunnicliffe Sr. and Mark Wolfe.
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BLS Run Turns Into Rescue Assignment |
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June 25nd - As members where taking part
in our monthly EMS CEU Training provided by
Cooper Medical Center the BLS Duty Crew was
alerted to the 600 Block of River Drive for
Bleeding. The BLS arrived and found a female
patient who had fallen and became impaled on an
iron garden decoration. With that, the BLS
advised County Communications to dispatch the
Rescue Company for the Rescue Assignment. Rescue
Co. 738 signed on quickly with a staffing of 5.
The Rescue Company arrived and after assessing
the situation, began digging the stake out with
small hand tools. Extrication and packaging was
complete in under 10 minutes. With the patient
packaged and loaded BLS 739 transported the
patient to Cooper Trauma. The Rescue Company was
available shortly after filling in the holes
left in the yard from the extrication process.
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Another Monday in June and Another Call
Out of the Ordinary…
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June 22nd, MONDAY – Ladder Company 736
was alerted at 1122 hrs. to respond to Logan
Township, Station 18-2 for the Cover Assignment
as part of a County Task Force Assignment. Logan
Twp. and area companies where operating on Sharp
Town Road in Logan Township on a full blown
Hazardous Materials Assignment for a rail car
leaking Ethanol. The Ladder Company took part in
Task Force 3602 as a fill-in for Ladder Co. 1026
(Washington Twp.) which was involved in the Haz-Mat
Job as a De-con Team. The Ladder Company was on
scene for approx. 6 hours. and unfortunately
handling 0 runs while the Engine Co. back in
town handled an alarm system. The members would
like to thank the Repaupo Fire Company Ladies
Auxiliary for all of the food and drinks that
where provided while on the cover
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Vehicle Well Off on State Highway 295 |
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June 18th, Thursday–
At approx. 1600hrs. Engine Company 733 was
alerted to State Highway 295 along with Engine
Co. 631 and Engine Co. 621 for the Vehicle Fire
at the 25.6 MM. Engine Co. 733 en route with a
staffing of 6, Chief 701 (Murtaugh) was arriving
on scene reporting a vehicle well involved in
the northbound shoulder. Engine 621 was also en
route and Chief 701 recalled Engine Co. 733. As
the Engine Company was making there way off the
highway and returning to quarters they where
requested back up on the highway due to Engine
621 having a malfunction and not being able to
initially flow water. As the Engine Company
arrived, the crews on scene where getting a
handle on the fire and where released
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Must be Something About Mondays in the
Month of June...
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June
15th -
Monday
Even though the month of June has started off a
little on the slow side, every Monday thus far
has brought along a call that has been out of
the ordinary and this Monday would prove to be
no exception (well its was technically Tuesday,
but we'll go with it). At 1900 hrs. just as the
evening storms where finished rolling through
the area, members where alerted to the 100 Block
of West Ave. for the Dwelling. Assistant Chief
702 (Farley) arrived on scene with a 1.5 story SFD with nothing showing and being waved in. The
occupants advised the Chief that during the
storm the window air conditioner had arched
during a bolt of lighting. Engine Company 733
arrived and began investigating and found the
circuit panel had tripped, but there was no fire
and everything was secure. As the Engine Co. was
finishing its investigation, Ladder Company 736
was released and sent to Gloucester City for a
reported Building Fire which was quickly
recalled. The Engine Company was also available.
Now for
the interesting part, shortly after midnight BLS
739 was clearing from an additional BLS call
when they where alerted to the 300 Block of
Broadway for an Unconscious Person. BLS 739
arrived to find a male that had some how put
himself through a plate glass window. The BLS
unit requested the Rescue Company to respond to
force entry into the building and assisting with
removing the occupant from the window. ALS was
now on scene assisting with the male. Once on
scene the Rescue Company had the male removed
and packaged with-in 15 minutes. ALS and BLS
transported the male to Cooper Medical Center
for his injuries and the Rescue Company was
available.
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Cutting and Burning Training Conducted for
Weekly Drill
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June
11th -
Thursday,- Members took part in Cutting and
Burning Training for our weekly drill. Members
took advantage of the first evening with no rain
in a couple weeks to refresh themselves in the
operations of the Petrogen Torch System carried
on the Rescue Company. With multiple different
types of metal in our training yard, a cutting
station was set up and members went over safe
operating procedures, how to prepare the system,
lighting and shutting down the system, safe
cutting procedures and how to restore the system
for service.
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Afternoon MVC Sends Three to Local ER |
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June
11th -Thursday- As the afternoon rush hour was
progressing through town Rescue Company 738 and BLS 739 where alerted to the intersection of
Little River Drive and Delsea Drive for the MVC.
Assistant Chief 702 (Farley) arrived to find a 2
vehicle crash with fluids in the roadway. BLS
739 and Rescue Company 738 arrived and began
assessing the occupants and the Rescue Company
handled the highway hazard. After obtaining 1
RMA from the first vehicle the BLS and Rescue
Company packaged the 3 occupants of the second
vehicle involved. BLS 995 (Deptford ESU) was
dispatched to assist with transport. All
occupants where packaged and loaded into the
awaiting BLS Units for transport to a local ER
for their injuries. The vehicles where removed
and the Rescue Company was available.
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Motor Vehicle Crash Near Miss with
Conrail Train |
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June
8th -
Monday, Shortly after 1500 hrs. BLS 739, Rescue
Company 738 and Rescue Company 628 where alerted
to Route 130 I.A.O. of the Iron Workers Local
Hall for a single vehicle MVC possibly involving
a Conrail Train. Upon arrival of Chief 701
(Murtaugh) he found a vehicle with front end
damage facing North in the SB lanes of Route 130
and a Conrail Train stopped on the tracks near
by. After investigating and talking to the
operators of both the vehicle and the train it
was found the the vehicle had just missed the
passing locomotive by less then 2 or 3 feet and
had struck the rail crossing light standard.
Both occupants of the vehicle had minor injuries
and the vehicle was leaking fluids. BLS 739 was
on scene assessing the occupants while the
Rescue Company secured the vehicle and handled
the highway hazard. Rescue Company 628 staged
and eventually handled a minor MVC on the other
side of the stopped train. BLS 993 (Deptford ESU) was
dispatched for the second PT and the Rescue
Company assisted packaging. Both occupants where
transported to a local ER for there injuries and
the scene was turned over to Westville PD and
Conrail Representatives.
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Ladder Company Assists in Welcoming Home New
Jersey National Guard Troops from Iraq |
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June
1st -
On Monday, Ladder Company 736
along with Quint 1-1 (Audubon) set up a Ladder
Arch on the Almonesson Road overpass of Route
295, also setting up on area overpasses where
Ladder 926 and Ladder 936 (Deptford Twp.) on the
Delsea Drive Bridge and on Browning Road in
Bellmawr, Ladder 33 (Bellmawr) and Ladder __
(Unknown) set up the Ladder Arch. All this was
being done to welcome home the troops of the New
Jersey National Guard who where traveling down
Route 295 en route back to the New Jersey
National Guard Armory Building in Woodbury. The
Westville Fire Department was proud to take part
in this event and would like to thank every
returning member for the service to our great
country. Thank you all and welcome home!
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Congratulations.... |
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June
1st -
On behalf of the Westville Fire Department, as
well as the Westville Fire District #1 Board of
Fire Commissioners, we would like to
congratulate Firefighters Tom Sonni and Lisa
Read for successfully completing the New Jersey
Firefighter I curriculum at the Gloucester
County Fire Academy. Also, completing the Junior
Firefighter curriculum at the Gloucester County
Fire Academy were Junior Firefighters Ryan
Leahy, Garry Tunnicliffe, Jr., Sean Nordaby,
Mitchell Hewitt. Jon Craig and Joe Craig.
We also would like to recognize Firefighter AJ
Horwitz for his successful completion of the New
Jersey EMT Program at Camden County Fire Academy
Congratulations for all of your hard work!
 
FF. Sonni, Jr. FF's Nordaby, Tunnicliffe, Leahy,
(not in Picture Jr. FF Hewitt)
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An Early Morning Cover, a Motor Vehicle Crash, a
1-Line Job &
Water Recovery Brings a Busy Day |
May 20th
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The
day started at approx. 0330 hrs. for the
brothers as they where dispatched to relocate to
Station 21-1 (Gibbstown) for the Cover
Assignment as they where operating at an
All-hands Building Fire at the Exxon Oil
Refinery. The Ladder Company was released
and returned back to the borough at 0600 hrs.
Shortly after 1000 hrs. Rescue and BLS 73 where
dispatched for an MVC at Route 130 and Highland
Ave. the BLS transported 1 minor injury from
this crash and the station was available shortly
there after.
At 1613 hrs. County Communications began
receiving calls for a reported Dwelling Fire in
the 300 Blk. of New Jersey Ave in National Park.
As companies where signing on the Fire Board
notified Chief 701 (Murtaugh) that PD was on
scene reporting a Vehicle Fire in the driveway
with a power line down and the dwelling not
involved. Chief 701 arrived shortly after this
update and reported a well involved auto and
extension to the dwelling. Command also
requested a rush on PSE&G for the downed power
line in the street. Engine Co. 811 and Ladder
Co. 736 arrived and went to work, with the
Engine Co. knocking down the fire now on the
outside of the home and the vehicle, the Ladder
Co. crew began checking for extension inside the
dwelling. The fire was quickly brought into
check and placed under control with no extension
to the interior of the dwelling. Additional
companies on scene assisted with aggressive
salvage operations to reduce damage to the tax
payers property. No injuries where reported on
scene and currently being investigated by the
Gloucester County FM Office
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Companies held fire to
the exterior
with minor damage to the interior
As crews where restoring equipment and apparatus
in quarters, the tones again went off for a
District 8 Box, however this time it was for a
Water Rescue in the Woodbury Creek I.A.O 140
Riverview Ave., at Cattails Bar. Chief 801 (M.
Gismondi) was en-route and notified by the Fire
Board that there where several eye witnesses on
scene reporting a male swimmer had went under
was not scene since. Crews began arriving and
started an aggressive search for the victim.
Additional resources on scene where from
Westville/National Park PD, West Deptford PD,
West Deptford Twp. FD, Deptford FD., G.C.
Prosecutors Office, the NJSP Marine Division,
and the Swedesboro/Malaga Dive Team. The
multiple agencies worked together for approx. 4
hours before the missing individual was located
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Companies Respond to Two Hazmat Assignments in
Three Days |
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Ladder Goes to work in Gloucester City, A &A
Food Market |
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Cover Assignment and Cut Job keeps 73 Companies
busy on Tuesday |
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February Ends with a Busy Couple of Days |
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February Ends with a Busy Couple of Days |
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Smoke Investigation becomes One Line Job |
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February 12th
-As
the weekly Thursday Night Drill was underway,
this week’s subject was Ground Ladders,
the tones dropped for the Engine to respond to
the area of 604 Ryan Ave. for a Smoke
Investigation. As the Engine Company signed on
with 6, County Communications advised the
company that Police where on location reporting
a working vehicle fire. Engine Company 733
arrived at 605 Ryan Ave, the
Casworth Waste
Services
Yard, with heavy fire from the engine and
passenger compartments of 2 commercial vehicles.
After making entry to the property the Engine
Company stretched the 85’ – 1 ¾” water line and
began attacking the fire. The Ladder Company
arrived on scene and assisted the Engine Crew
with overhaul. The fire was extinguished with
less then 500 gallons of water, and the
companies remained on scene for the County Fire
Marshal to conduct his investigation. Companies
were available within the hour with no injuries
reported, with the fire being investigated by
the Westville Police Department and Gloucester
County Fire Marshal Office.
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Busy Day in Bellmawr |
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February 7th
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day started off with a handful of members
attending the “Shave Our Heads for Kat” Breast
Cancer Awareness Event being held at Station 32
for Bellmawr Firefighter Brian Monroes’ wife who
was recently diagnosed with Breast Cancer. A
great time was being had by all who attended and
at the height of the event; Task Force 32 was
dispatched for a dwelling fire. As crews arrived
quickly, they found a working fire in a single
family dwelling which brought Ladder Company 736
to the quarters of Station 32 for the cover. The
fire was quickly contained and brought under
control and covers where released within the
hour.
A few hours later, in the early hours of Sunday,
February 8th, Task Force 32 was again
dispatched for a Dwelling on Majestic Avenue.
Crews again arrived rather quickly and found a 1
½ story single family dwelling with heavy fire.
Ladder Company 736 was again dispatched for the
cover.
Moments later the Ladder Company was redirected
into the job as command was requesting and extra
Engine and Truck. The Ladder Company arrived as
companies where going on a defensive attack due
to rapidly deteriorating conditions on the
interior. The Truck crew went to work on the
Delta side opening up and extinguishing pockets
of fire. Crews operated for approx. two hours
before returning to service. The fire is being
investigated by the Camden County Fire Marshals
Office.
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FF T. Sonni, FF Walton, FF T. Leahy and
Captain Cattell Prior to the head shave |
FF T. Sonni, Kat Monroe FF Walton, Brian
Monroe, FF R. Miller and Captain Cattell
after the head shave |
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Ladder Company Covering Bellmawr with
Westville Members who shaved their heads
for Kat. |
Majestic
Avenue
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Assistant Chief Farley Majestic Avenue
Bellmawr |
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Winter Storm Brings Commercial Vehicle Fire on
the NJTP |
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February 4th
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a winter storm was winding down in the area
which dropped upwards of 6 to 8 inches of snow,
Deptford F.D. Station 9-2 was dispatched to
Delsea Drive and Turkey Hill Road for a smoke
investigation. Within minutes of the original
dispatch, the assignment was upgraded to a
Commercial Vehicle Fire on the N.J.T.P. at MM 23
NB which brought Engine 9-2, Engine 25-1, Rescue
7-3, and BLS 739. 9201 (Chief Thomas) arrived
and had the cab of a tractor trailer well
involved. Engine 922 arrived and stretched 2 - 1
3/4" water lines. Rescue 738 arrived with a crew
of 6 and assisted with overhaul and checking for
extension. No extension was made to the trailer
of the vehicle and the operator was not injured.
The Rescue Company operated for approx. an hour
before being released by command, while
maintaining an additional crew back in quarters.
No injuries where reported.
Pictures By: Tacoma Fire Company Station 9-2
(Deptford Township)
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Westville Fire Department
Officers for 2009 |
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January
1st - The Board of Commissioners and the
members of the Westville Fire Department would
like to congratulate the Line of Officers for the Year 2009.
Chief : Charles D. Murtaugh
Assistant Chief : Eric S. Farley
Captain: Jody Long
Captain: Matthew Cattell
We would like to thank
Lieutenant
Brian Sims and
Paul Ostrom for their time
served as
Lieutenants in the year 2008.
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Not Your Average Sunday Afternoon in
Westville |
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January
25th
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before 1230 hrs. Ladder 73 was dispatched to
State Highway 295 in the area of Big Timber
Creek to Assist the Police. Upon arrival Ladder
Co. 736 and 702 (Asst. Chief E. Farley) found
what ended up being a stolen vehicle that had
traveled through the wooded area and ended up in
the Creek. Westville PD on scene needed to gain
access to the vehicle to search for occupants.
As the vehicle was to far from land and freezing
water and air temperatures, command special
called Rescue Co. 32 (Bellmawr) for there Cold
Water Suits. Rescue Co. 32 arrived and with
assistance from Ladder Co. 736 crew, entered the
water and searched the vehicle for occupants.
The vehicle was found to be empty. The crew in
the water assisted Riehls Towing with securing
the vehicle to the Wrecker. The vehicle was
hoisted out of the water and up onto the
overpass. Crews operated for approx. 2 hours
until the vehicle was removed and turned over to
police with no injuries reported.
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New Website Design |
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January 10th
- Please be patient with us as we work
out all the rough edges with our new website
design.
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Pin Job and an All-hands with a Special
Call in Gloucester City
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January
8th
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Just before 0800 hrs. G.C. Communications
dispatched Rescue and BLS 73 to Crown Point Rd.
and Station Ave. for the Motor Vehicle Crash.
BLS 739 and Chief 701 responding county advised
them PD on scene reporting 1 injury. As the BLS
and Chief arrived they found 1 patient trapped
in a vehicle. Rescue Co. 738 responded with 5.
Upon arrival, the Rescue Co. began stabilization
and extrication. The extrication was complete in
less then 15mins. BLS transported the occupant
to a local ER with non-life threatening
injuries. Westville PD is investigating the
crash. The day ended with
Task Force 5 (Camden County) dispatched to the
300 Blk. of Jersey Ave. for a reported Dwelling
Fire
at approx. 1600 hrs.
Battalion 504 arrived with Squad Co. 51 to find
a 2 1/2 story wood frame dwelling with heavy
fire showing with an exposure problem to the "D"
exposure. Squad Co. 51 made an aggressive attack
leading off with 2 - 2 1/2" water lines and made
an aggressive push into the exposure building to
limit the fire damage. Ladder Company 736
arrived and was put to work opening up both the
original fire building and the exposure
building. An aggressive attack was made by all
companies operating on the fire grounds which
helped bring the fire under control quickly.
Ladder Co. 1-1 was special called above the
all-hands to assist with overhaul. The Ladder
Company worked for approx. an hour and
a
half before being released by Battalion 504. One
civilian was transported with a minor injury as
well as one firefighter injury from Station 5-1
transported for a back injury. We wish him
a speedy recovery from his injuries.
The Camden County Fire Marshals Office is
investigating the cause.
Photos By: Steve Skipton PhillyFireNews.com
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Westville Fire Department Executive Board
Members for 2009 |
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January
1st - The Board of Commissioners and the
members of the Westville Fire Department would
like to congratulate the Executive Board Members
for the Year 2009.
President : Angelo Natoli
Vice President : David Bowerman
Treasurer : Fritz Sims
Recording Secretary : Matthew Cattell
Sergeant At Arms :
Timothy Leahy Jr.
Trustee: Bruce Nordaby
Trustee: Jody Long
Trustee: Michael Holick
Trustee: Charles D. Murtaugh
Trustee: Mark Wolfe
We would like to thank Trustee Brian Sims, and
Sergeant at Arms Paul Ostrom for their time
served as Executive Board Members.
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Busy Afternoon Ends with an All-hands
Job
in Gloucester City to End 2008 |
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December 31st
- As
the last afternoon of 2008 was getting underway
snow flurries and high winds started to pick up
in the area. As members where preparing for
lunch at the station, a local resident was
knocking on the station doors reporting a
possible gas leak at her residence. Crews
started investigating the residence and found a
faulty connection to a newly installed stove.
Crews secured the leak and began ventilating. As
this was going on the station was alerted for a
report of wires arching in a tree, Chief 701
investigated and found nothing in the area. As
the chief was clearing this assignment, the
tones where struck for a reported dwelling fire
in Gloucester City. The Ladder Company
responded with 6 members and arrived to find a 2
store wood frame middle of the row with fire in
the basement. The Ladder Company was directed by
Battalion 504 to check the exposures for
extension and begin ventilation. The Ladder
Company was available within the hour from the
fire scene and where directed to Gloucester City
Fire Headquarters for the Cover.
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