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| First arriving engine from District 5, Squad 51. |
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| View of fire building from Water Street |
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| Gloucester City Quint setting up early in the fire. |
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| Firefighters breaching a fence. |
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| Mule 1388M did a 360 sweep several times to provide food and liquids for the members working at the fire building. |
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| Westville Ladder in service, partial collapse in this building section |
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| District 5 Command Chief |
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| Qunit 51 setting up to go in service. |
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| Putting the LDH back on the Squrt at daybreak |
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| View from Water Street in collapse zone |
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| Rehab 2 in service. Rehab 1 and 2 are the former Camden County Canteen Units |
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| Rehab 13 members at Rehab 13 (1385) |
Sunday, January 24, 2010 - Early this morning the Task Force Assignment was struck for District 5 at the Amspec Chemical Company at 751 Water Street along the Gloucester City waterfront. The on duty Battalion Chief 504 reported a heavy column of smoke visible from blocks away while responding. Arriving on the scene Battalion 504 had a vacant building, 3 stories in height, 300' x 300' - with fire showing from all sides. The 2nd alarm was transmitted shortly thereafter.
As companies arrived and established water supplies for a defensive attack, adequate water became an issue and several special calls went out, followed by the third alarm and the request for the 5" supply line Task Force. Rehab 1 and 2 were also dispatched for fire ground support at the 2nd alarm request.
Units from Camden City, and Philadelphia's fire boat were also requested for the water front side for additional water supply. A third. fourth, and fifth alarm were also requested as were additional Rehab companies sending Rehab 13 to the scene at 0521 hrs.
Since Rehab 1 and 2 were already on scene, Rehab 13 with 12 personnel and three apparatus as well as the Kawasaki Mule staged several blocks away from the fire.
Rehab 13 set up to cook hot food and beverages, and the Mule was utilized to deliver food and beverages through out the fire building area while U1386 took care of the pump operators that were on relays, and hydrants blocks from the fire building.
A fifth alarm assignment is not a usual occurrence in our area but due to the size of the operation the Mule (1388M) made good use of its double size cargo area and four wheel drive and was able to traverse off road and over hose-lines without fear of damaging or cutting same.
Breakfast sandwiches, cheeseburgers, and honey mustard chicken sandwiches along with MVP, water, light snack foods and hot coffee were made available to every area of the fire ground.
Rehab 13 was released from the scene at 0815 hrs and returned to station to restore all units to service. That was accomplished by 1000 hrs.
Fire ground photos courtesy of Steve Skipton, Philly Fire News. Other photos by Rehab 13 by members J. Cundiff and D. Rosen.
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