Camden Firefighters Battle Stubborn Gas Fed Fire
Photo by Frank SaiaLadder Co 1 prepares to operate its aerial to keep the fire in check as other firefighters withdrew from the area due to a natural gas leak. The exposures were evacuated as a precaution until the natural gas leak was controlled.
Photo by Frank SaiaBattalion Chiefs Dan Baker and Ed Stratton discuss operations at this working fire at 1260 Liberty Street, Camden, NJ on February 9, 2026. A natural gas leak hampered extinguishment efforts until the leak could be controlled.
Photo by Frank SaiaR-1 FF Nico Munoz assists with stretching a hose line to keep the fire in check until the natural gas could be shut to the building.
Photo by Frank SaiaFF Chris Jimenez ventilates a second floor window at 1260 Liberty Street, Camden, NJ on February 9, 2026.
Photo by Frank SaiaCrews work to keep the natural gas fed fire in check until the utility company could shut off the supply.
Photo by Frank SaiaBattalion Chief Dan Baker confers with Captain Will Johnson at the working fire at 1260 Liberty Street, Camden, NJ on February 9, 2026.
On February 9, 2026, at approximately 1334 hours, the Camden County Fire Alarm Room transmitted a Camden box for the report of a dwelling fire in the area of 1229 Haddon Avenue. Squad 7 arrived and reported smoke showing from 1260 Liberty Street, which is a 2 story, ordinary constructed, single family, vacant dwelling. Squad 7 made the initial push to the interior and encountered holes in the floor on the first floor with an active fire in the basement which was spreading. Battalion Chief 1, Dan Baker, arrived and reported an odor of natural gas coming from the dwelling. With the conditions of the structure in question and the odor of natural gas, the order was given to evacuate the building and transition to a defensive attack. Crews set up multiple hose lines to keep the fire in check and used caution as to not extinguish the active gas fed fire in the basement. Public Service Gas arrived on location and worked to shut off the natural gas supply to the house, but were unable to do so. They called a backhoe crew out to break the concrete at the sidewalk to give them access to the natural gas pipe. Public Service Gas also advise the Incident Commander to keep the firefighting crews at a safe distance until the natural gas could be shut down. Shutting the supply down would take some time and the fire grew in intensity, but was kept in check as to not spread to adjacent buildings.
No information from the author.