5.2.08 CHFD EMS Chief Honored by Rotary Club

Cherry Hill Fire Department EMS Chief, Randall McCargar was selected as the 2008 Cherry Hill Rotary Club Public Safety Person of the Year. Chief McCargar was honored at the 2nd Annual Rotary Club Community Service Awards Dinner & Raffle. The raffle, which is a fundraiser for the Club’s many charitable offerings, is 16 years old and usually raises about $15,000. Due to its success, the Club decided to expand the idea of the fundraiser into a community outreach program and offer special recognition to people that serve Cherry Hill in the fields of: Education; Health Care; & Public Safety.

Chief McCargar was nominated and accepted for his “outstanding and stellar career serving the public as an Emergency Medical Technician and Paramedic", according to Rotary Club Secretary Jeff King. Chief McCargar’s 34 year career in EMS has taken him around the country serving at various levels. After a national search for an experienced EMS leader in 2003, he and his wife Pam relocated to Cherry Hill when Randy was selected as EMS Chief for the Cherry Hill Fire Department. Since, he has implemented a first class EMS operation and positioned Cherry Hill’s EMS services as one of the finest pre-hospital care services in the region. According to Chief Giorgio; “Chief McCargar is one of those people that adds value to whatever he does, is fun to work with, proud of his profession; and in his short time with our department has become a key figure both today and for our future”. Please join us in congratulating Chief McCargar’s achievement.

4.20.08 CHFD Joins 9-11 Patriotic Celebration

Cherry Hill Firefighters and EMTs joined residents, police officers and veterans at the 7th Annual 9-11 Remembrance & Patriotic Gratitude Event. Held on Chapel Avenue under the shade of the cherry trees, planted each year by Cherry Hill resident, Joe Zanghi, a moment of silence was observed in reflection of support for the men, women and families affected by the tragic events of September 11, 2001; and to offer an endorsement for the men and woman of our armed services. For a slideshow of the 2 mile stretch of 3,000 cherry trees along Chapel Ave, visit the Cherry Blossoms website.

4.12.08 CHFD Emergency Workers on Scene Struck By Car

From the official CHFD Press Release: At just around 9:15 AM, on Saturday, April 12, 2008, one Cherry Hill Fire Department EMT and one fire department Paramedic were struck by a motorist while working on another emergency scene in the westbound lanes of Route 70.

The EMT and Paramedic were operating on the scene of a motor vehicle accident involving four vehicles with five victims that required transport to a hospital. While they were loading one patient already on a stretcher into the ambulance, they were struck by a motorist. The vehicle went around the backed-up traffic and onto the shoulder where the EMS personnel were operating and struck them and their vehicle.

Both injured EMS personnel were treated on the scene by Cherry Hill Firefighters also working at the original accident scene. Additional emergency workers were called to assist with the two accidents. All patients from the original accident were transported to local hospitals. The injured EMT and Paramedic were transported to Virtua hospital where they are under observation with non life threatening injuries.

Chief Giorgio remarked: “Accidents involving emergency workers operating on a roadway can be career ending and often fatal. This incident highlights the risk our EMTs and Firefighters take every day performing their duties. Our EMTs respond to about 7,500 calls each year and accidents make up a decent portion of that total. We encourage all motorists to slow down and increase their awareness near accident scenes, especially when there are emergency vehicles and personnel operating. Sometimes, this increased awareness and care is the only protection emergency responders have while operating on our roadways”.

Of particular interest; one of the EMS workers struck is in training for the National EMS Memorial Bike Ride set to begin on May 17th, 2008. This 500 mile bike ride is a component of the Annual EMS Memorial held in Roanoke. VA. This ride has the multiple objective of: Remembering fellow EMS workers who have died in the line of duty, raise public awareness about EMS line of duty deaths and disabilities; honor EMS providers who work despite dangerous safety conditions; and others.

This incident is currently under investigation by the Cherry Hill Fire Department and Cherry Hill Police.

4.6.08 CHFD Assists Camden FD at 3-Alarm Blaze

Fire Departments from Camden, Cherry Hill, Audubon, & Bellmawr worked together to fight this 3-alarm blaze in an abandoned Camden warehouse in the 1100 block of Linden Ave during the late afternoon of Sunday, April 6th, 2008. CHFD members from Ladder 2 responded on the 2nd alarm when the incident commander requested a tower ladder. This is a perfect example of how regional emergency services assist each other with “mutual aid” assignments and readiness. More information can be found in the Courier Post article concerning this fire. More images, graciously donated, can be found on our Flickr.com picture site. Or for even more pictures, visit www.southjerseyfire.com.

3.31.08 - Firefighters Make Quick Work of a Hot Basement Fire

From the Official CHFD Press Release: At just around 3:30 in the afternoon on March 31, 2008, Cherry Hill Firefighters responded to a reported house fire on Banner Road in the Surrey Place East development. The homeowner was at home and heard some loud popping sounds towards the front of his house. He investigated and discussed the sounds with electrical contractors trenching fiber optic cable for Verizon FiOS directly in front of his home. They had been working in the neighborhood for some time.

Within minutes, as they were discussing the possibility they may have contacted buried utilities, the homeowner noticed a heavy smoke condition coming from his basement and called 9-1-1. Firefighters arrived and immediately went in service with a hose line to the basement to extinguish the fire. At the same time, the house was opened up to ventilate the growing smoke condition. A second hose line was placed in service when it was discovered the fire had severely impacted the basement ceiling and had extended to the first floor. Also, even though the homeowner indicated he was the only one at home, firefighters performed a systematic search for anyone possible remaining in the dwelling.

Once all fire was extinguished, firefighters searched for further extension. It was felt the exterior wall on the side of the house most affected may have some fire extension, so teams worked on the inside and outside of the house to uncover any hidden hot spots. In all, 25 firefighters managed to place this fire under control in about 15 minutes. There were no injuries to civilians or firefighters reported at the scene. However, this family of three is displaced from their home. This fire is currently under investigation by the Cherry Hill Fire Marshal's Office.

3.10.08 - Dwelling Fire in Backyard of CHFD Fire Station 2.

As taken from CHFD Official Press Release: At around 3:50 AM, March 10, 2008, Cherry Hill Firefighters at Cherry Hill’s Station 2 on West Route 70 and Cooper Ave. became aware of some commotion to the rear of their fire station. As one of the firefighters investigated through a window, they quickly realized there was a serious fire in the dwelling bordering the back of the firehouse.

One occupant who was asleep on the first floor and awoke to the sound of her smoke detector and immediately smelled a strong odor of smoke. She woke the other occupants, including a two year old toddler, and they evacuated the dwelling calling 911. She then ran to the door of the firehouse to alert firefighters.

As firefighters raced to grab their gear, they called in the fire to dispatchers as a full alarm to get the appropriate response and moved their apparatus out of the firehouse and into their own parking lot. One team of firefighters advanced a hose line to the rear of the dwelling where the heaviest fire had completely engulfed an outside porch area. At the same time, the balance of the firefighters worked with the occupants make sure everyone was out of the house.

As other teams of firefighters arrived, they advanced a second hose line into the house to back up the first, and encountered a quick moving fire that had consumed the laundry room and kitchen and was moving rapidly to the adjacent rooms. At the same time, even though all occupants were reported out, firefighters coordinated a systematic search of every room. They also began to open up all the windows of the house to alleviate the heavy smoke condition which had spread throughout the home. Once all visible fire was extinguished, firefighters opened up walls and ceilings to search for extension.
In all, 30 firefighters managed to place this fire under control in about 15 minutes. There were no injuries to civilians or firefighters reported at the scene. This fire is currently under investigation by the Cherry Hill and Camden County Fire Marshal Offices and Cherry Hill Police. For additional pictures, visit the CHFD's Flickr photo web site.

3/8 & 3/9 - CHFD Answers All Calls During the Storm....

As the tri-state area was ravaged by wind and rain over the 48 hour period from March 8th to 9th, the Cherry Hill Fire Department responded to more than XX storm related calls. Beginning with the heavy rains on Friday night into Saturday and the unusually strong and gusty winds on Saturday, firefighters were busy around the clock.
The heavy rain, estimated to be close to 2 inches in our region from the National Weather Service, caused the flooding of several basements. Cherry Hill Firefighters use submersible pumps to bring the water levels down to a safe level, reducing the impact on utilities and the structure. More damaging to the region were the 60 to 65 mph winds. Aside from the typical wires down calls associated with a storm like this, numbering 13 during this storm, firefighters also responded to calls involving significant damage to area structures and buildings.
Firefighters received a call for a structural collapse on Kresson Road, at about 6:00 PM on Saturday night. On their arrival, they encountered scaffolding from the Kresson Road water tower being heavily damaged by the wind. The scaffolding structure had been weakened and wooden planks and ripped portions of large tarps were being blown all over the area, including Kresson Road and the New Jersey Turnpike.
The New Jersey State Police were contacted and the Turnpike was requested shut down between exits 3 and 4, and Cherry Hill Police closed Kresson Road from Covered Bridge Rd. to Browning Rd. until firefighters could better assess the damage and extent of the falling debris. Members of the fire department’s Technical Rescue Team were called out to use sophisticated structural collapse equipment to monitor the water tower structure and the scaffolding. Kresson Road continued to be closed until about 7:00 Am the next day.
During the same period, Cherry Hill Firefighters were called to the Mark 70 Apartment building for numerous reports of a natural gas leak from residents on floors 4 through 18. During the investigation, firefighters found a broken two inch gas main pipe located on the roof that suffered damage when a large 25 by 50 foot section of the roof membrane had been torn away. The natural gas was being drawn into the building by large ventilation fans that normally bring fresh air into the common areas of the building. Public Service Electric & Gas responded to secure and repair the gas leak. Sections of the damaged roof were raining down in the parking and entrance area to the apartment building and Cherry Hill Police were called in to redirect residents to a safer exit.
In all, the fire department responded to about 30 calls during a 12 hour period at the height of the storm. Pictures provided to CHFD by Curt Hudson.

Cherry Hill Hazmat Unit Special Called to Bellmawr

On Wednesday January 30th at approximately 7:29 PM a fire was reported on Creek Road in Bellmawr at ANA Laboratories. Bellmawr Fire Department units arrived on location with heavy smoke and fire already showing from the business. All employees working at the time safely escaped. Fire department units immediately placed large diameter hose streams in service to extinguish the fire. Soon after firefighters started operating, the rear half of building's roof collapsed forcing an exterior operation. Cherry Hill's Hazardous Materials Unit was special called to identify the chemicals stored in the facility and make decisions on mitigation of the containers and high pressure cylinders used at the property. Several containers exploded in the building during the firefighting operations. Cherry Hill's members were able to safely remove several 55 gallon drums away from building before being exposed to fire or further collapse. During the overhaul operations the members also overpacked, into secure containers, other chemicals with container damage. Camden County Department of Health's Emergency Reponse team was continuing to oversee the proper cleanup of the remaining products within the building. Fire departments from several surrounding towns also responded to assist in firefighting operations. No injuries were reported.
[Additional info and Pics]
[Local News Coverage]

1-26-08 Fast Moving House Fire in Woodland Neighborhood

On Saturday, January 26, at about 5:30 PM, Cherry Hill Firefighters responded to a reported house fire on Franklin Ave., in the Woodland neighborhood. Reports from dispatchers indicated that there may be trapped occupants still in the house. The first arriving engine company found the house almost entirely involved with fire and a heavy smoke condition. The engine company advanced a hose line to extinguish the fire, while additional arriving firefighters advanced another hose line to back up the first, and search for the report of trap occupants.

The firefighters on scene quickly extinguished the fire and conducted an extensive search from inside the home. No occupants were found inside the home. The reported trapped occupants were in fact, out of the house and were later accounted for. Within 15 minutes of firefighters arriving, the the fire was placed under control. Pictures courtesy of Steve Skipton/Debbie Fortunato.

Cherry Hill Firefighters respond to landmark restaurant

On 1/16/08 Cherry Hill Firefighters were called to the Coastline restaurant for a report of a fire in the basement. When firefighters arrived they found the first floor and the basement filling with smoke. Firefighters used Thermal Imaging Cameras to find the fire burning in a void space between the the basement and first floors. Power saws were used to cut open the floor and the fire was extinguished. The early 1900's farm house converted to a restaurant suffered minor damage.