About the Fire

Gloucester City Fire Department News Release
On 4 July 2002 at 0136 hrs. the Gloucester City Fire Department was dispatched to 200 North Broadway for a reported house fire. Responding units were advised that occupants may be trapped.

First arriving units were on location in less than three minutes. They found heavy fire on all exposures of a three-story multi-family dwelling and initiated a search for entrapped occupants. (Various reports from bystanders were at times conflicting regarding the number and location of victims)

While providing an aggressive interior attack and rescue operation, an occupant was rescued from the dwelling. Due to the severity of their injuries they were unable to give direction regarding the whereabouts of any other occupants.

While all hands were operating by continuing an aggressive interior attack and rescue, a partial collapse of the structure occurred. An emergency evacuation signal was sounded and while that was commencing a further and much more substantial collapse occurred trapping eight firefighters inside the burning debris.

Additional specialized collapse rescue resources were requested, firefighter accountability was initiated and rescue efforts were intensified.

Five of the eight trapped firefighters were rescued. Three of the eight gave the ultimate sacrifice in service to their fellow man

As of this report we have recovered all of our fallen comrades as well as all of the reported missing children. Unfortunately these three children did not survive.

A total of nine victims were transported to area hospitals, one civilian and eight firefighters.

All firefighters were treated and released and the civilian was transferred from Cooper Hospital-University Medical Center Trauma Center to Crozier-Chester Medical Center Burn Unit.

A short prayer service was held at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church immediately after the incident. Additional counseling is being provided by the Mercury Critical Incident Stress Debriefing unit, University Behavioral Health Services EAP, the FMBA assistance unit, etc.

The cause of the fire is being investigated by the New Jersey State Police Arson Unit and the Camden County Prosecutors Office.