At 0420 hrs this morning the box was struck for the 300 block of Nature Drive in the Woodcrest section of Cherry Hill. Responding companies were alerted to the possibility of one occupant not being accounted for. B 13 (Giorgio) arrived on scene with 1st due Engine SQ13 and reported a 2 story front to back split SFD with heavy fire division C. Companies went in service with 2 1/2" hand lines and the truck company opened up and conducted a primary search, with all occupants accounted for.

Due to the fire volume companies were ordered to withdraw and go defensive to achieve knockdown, and re-entered once this was accomplished to finish up as the overhaul on this was going to extensive.

At 0510 hrs Rehab 13 was requested to the scene along with Cascade 11-4 and the Cherry Hill Fire Police for perimeter traffic control. Rehab 13 and U1386 responded with 5 personnel and arrived to provide hot and cold liquids, towels, hot foods and snack foods, as well as a rest room and rest area for the members engaged in the operation.

Rehab remained on scene until 0728 hrs and returned to the station via Motor Maintenance to replace a defective headlight on the rig.

The fire cause is under investigation by the local and county fire marshals' offices.

Photos of the incident by Lt. J. Cundiff of Rehab 13.

At 1340 hrs the Station 662 task force box was transmitted for the 200 Block of Pelham Road. Arriving companies had heavy fire on Side C extending to the 2nd floor and attic. Several hand-lines were stretched to control the fire.

At 1359 hrs Rehab 13 was notified to respond to the location to provide fire ground support. Rehab 13 and U1386 responded with 7 personnel and upon arrival on the fire grounds were able to get a position on the corner from the dwelling and eventually directly in front of the dwelling next door to the fire. Liquids hot and cold and light snack foods were provided.

Rehab 13 remained on scene until 1535 hours and returned to station to re-supply.

 Photos were taken by Rehab Officer Lt. Jeff Cundiff

Rehab 13 had its busiest year to date and below is a statistical report of activity and products distributed. There were many first this year. These include 1st time responses to Cinnaminson, Mount Laurel, Palmyra, Maple Shade, and Bordentown City. Multiple extra alarm fires in the City of Camden made June 2011 the busiest on record since our start up year of 2004.

Responses:  77  Day runs: (8AM to 5PM Weekdays) 37  Night Runs: 40

Recalls: 3      24 hr average members responding: 8.0 

Total Member Hrs:  3675 hrs

Total Hours in Service: 314 hrs

Average Time In Service: 4.5 hrs

Special Assignments:  28   Drills:  27     Drill Member Hrs:  592.25 

Supplies Distributed:

MVP:   5292

Water Pints:  2748

Water Gallons:  160

Water 1/2 gallons:  181

Hot/Cold Cups:   2333

Pots of Coffee:   266

Hot Dogs/Rolls:   2099

Hot Chocolate:   452

Breakfast Sandwich:   822

Chicken Sandwich:   196

Cheeseburger:   578

Soup/Cans:   10

Cookies/All:   965 packages

Breakfast Bar/All:   841

Asst Nuts:   333

Sqwinchers:   468

Cotton Towels:   718

Folding Chairs:   404

Toe/Hand Warmers: 100

Runs: Camden County 42 (includes Cherry Hill), Burlington County 19, Gloucester County 6

Lawrence E. Colacicco - Station Chief - Deer Park Fire Company/Rehab 13

The Cherry Hill Fire Department was alerted to a motor vehicle crash at the intersection of Morris Drive and Berlin-Haddonfield Road (Rt. 561) and upon arrival a dump truck loaded with sand had overturned and fell on top of an SUV trapping the occupant inside the SUV. The dump truck driver was not injured.

The Cherry Hill Fire Department's Squad 13 and Rescue 13 went in service to gqin access to the SUV'S driver.  A front end loader from Cherry Hill Public Works Department was requested to help remove the sand that is hampering the efforts to reach the victim in the SUV.

Rehab 13 was dispatched at 1216 hrs and along with U1386 responded to the scene and took a position near the Downs Farm Swim Club facing west in the eastbound lanes. Rehab 13 members prepared hot foods and beverages, and provided a rest room and cold beverages for the incident Fire, EMS, and Police as well as Paramedics, Township employees, and the news media that were on standby. Unfortunately, the driver of the SUV did not survive the crash.

Rehab 13 remained on location until 1509 hrs and was released by Battalion 13. Rehab units returned to station to re-supply.

Photos by Lt. J. Cundiff of Rehab 13.

Although the incident began sometime overnight a local resident detected a sheen and noticed a strong odor in the waterway near her home and contacted the Gloucester Township Fire Department. After arriving on scene and investigating the odor and the sheen it was discovered that a release of fuel oil had occurred and had entered the waterways in the area. 

Notifications to all responsible agencies were made and the leak was traced back to a NJ Transit Facilities fuel storage tank. It was estimated that an amount of approximately 25,000 gallons had been released into the ground and eventually into the local lakes and creeks. The spill was finally contained in the Big Timber Creek and an outside cleanup crew was in the process of booming and collecting the product.

Rehab 13 and U1386 responded with a crew of 7 and set up at the staging area along Lakeland Road. Rehab prepared hot foods, hot liquids, cold beverages, a rest and recovery area, and rest room for the responding agencies personnel.

Rehab 13 remained on scene from 1328 hrs to 1715 hrs providing food and liquids for the personnel working the incident which was very large due to the waterways involved.

Companies from Gloucester Township Fire, GTPD, and Gloucester County Fire (Washington Twp), along with DEP, EPA, NJSP, and NJ Transit Police, along with GTEMS were on scene. Gloucester County also sent their Animal Control Officer to the scene to deal with the animals that had perished due to exposure to the fuel oil.

Photos by member J. Cundiff, Lt.,  Rehab 13.

At 1115 hrs this morning Winslow Twp Command (2500 Scardino) requested Rehab 13 to the scene of a single family dwelling in the 100 block of E. Fleming Pike near Egg Harbor Road (Rt. 561). This was a large 2 story wood frame dwelling with fire showing from the A/D corner upon arrival. Crews made and aggressive interior attack and primary search, but discovered a fire in the basement that was well established and due to worsening condition on the inside and imminent floor collapse, crews had to go defensive.

This section of Winslow Twp has no public hydrants in the area and along with Atlantic County Companies from Hammonton and other departments established a tender shuttle from a hydrant located near the Ancora State Hospital with Engine 2561 as the water supply engine feeding the tender shuttle.

Collapse of the 2nd floor into the first floor occurred thereafter and crews had to direct streams from hand-lines and Ladder 25-3 in a defensive posture while keeping manpower out of the interior due to the nature and poor condition of the structure.

Rehab 13 and U 1386 responded with 6 personnel and were directed to a position in the rear of the dwelling next to the fire building and set up there. Upon receiving orders from Field Com 2, Rehab set up for hot food, hot beverages, water and MVP, light snack foods, and set up a rest and recovery area at the D side of the fire building. The Rehab rest room was also utilized during the incident. Due to the cold temperatures, several pairs of hand and toe warmers were supplied to the firefighters working the incident. In addition to Winslow, F's from Waterford, Berlin (21-1) West Berlin (22-2), Hampton, and several other Atlantic County companies also assisted during the fire.

The fire is currently under investigation by the Winslow and Camden County Fire Marshal's Offices. The home owners were not a t home during the fire but did return there later. Several family pets were found by firefighters but had perished during the fire.

Rehab 13 was released from the fire-ground at 1430 and was fully stocked and back in service by 1530 hrs.

Photos by L. Colacicco and T. Kraft of Rehab 13.

At 1822 hrs Rehab 13 was special called to the dwelling fire on Laurel Road, Stratford. The all hands fire that had been placed under control quickly had escalated into a drawn out procedure due to the amount of black power, ammunition, and other chemicals found inside the dwelling.

In addition to the all hands companies, Cherry Hill Fire Department's Haz Mat 13 and the joint Camden/Gloucester County EOD team were special called to sample the air inside and to take a look at a couple of other items that were found inside the dwelling, as well as determine the condition of the other materials as well.

Rehab 13 responded with 5 personnel and 2 vehicles to provide fire ground support in the way of hot and cold liquids, hot foods, snack foods, rest area, rest room, and cooling towels and other supplies.

An area of chairs was set up and all firefighters rotated in and out of the rest and recovery area while operating during the overhaul, origin and cause investigation, and the removal of all of the ammo and other materials.

Rehab 13 was released from the scene at 2216 hrs and returned to resupply the apparatus.

Photos by J. Cundiff, Lt,. Rehab 13

This morning Santa Claus came to visit the Old Orchard section of Cherry Hill to give out Candy Canes and get Santa familiar with the area that he will be visiting to give out presents in about 7 days.

Members gathered at 0930 hrs to await the arrival of Santa and placed the bearded fellow on the 1939 Mack pumper, so that he would feel at home due to his age.

Members also handed out materials for the recruitment of new members for the Rehab company as we can always use a few good hands, especially during the day as some members have left us and or have medical issues that do not allow them to participate in an active member status.

A great time was had by all and the little ones were thrilled with the arrival of Santa a little earlier than expected.

Photos by Rehab 13 members.

The Cherry Hill Police traffic unit was on location processing and photographing the scene of an auto vs. bicycle at the Rt. 38 and Church Road circle and needed additional lighting so that Squrt 1351 could go available. The call came in at 2158 hrs. and U1386 left the incident at 2351 hrs and was ready at 0015 hrs.

U1386 responded with a crew of two and placed the light tower and telescoping lights on the unit in service while the CHPD Traffic unit did the scene investigation. The Cherry Hill Fire Police unit was also on scene to provide traffic control at the accident. U1386 was in service for approximate 2 hours.

At the time of this article the condition of the accident victim was not known to this writer.

No photos were taken due to the nature of the assignment.