A dwelling fire in Camden City escalated to a second alarm Saturday afternoon, bringing in mutual-aid crews and putting Cherry Hill's Ladder 1324 to work at the scene, according to the Cherry Hill Fire Department. In its initial update, the department did not share any information on injuries, evacuations or what sparked the blaze. Officials also did not release the exact address or indicate when the fire might be declared under control.
Cherry Hill ladder company on scene under mutual-aid plan
Aerial Ladder 1324 operates out of Cherry Hill Fire Station 2, and the Cherry Hill Township site notes the company routinely provides mutual aid to Camden and other nearby municipalities. The municipal page also describes Ladder 1324 as a 100-foot aerial unit that covers Cherry Hill's west side and is equipped for large-structure responses.
Second alarm typically brings extra resources
A second-alarm designation generally calls additional engines and ladder companies from across Camden County under prearranged mutual-aid protocols. The Haddon Fire Company response plan lists Ladder 1324 as a unit that can be assigned to Task Force responses for reported building and dwelling fires and shows how units are parceled out during larger incidents.
What we know now and next steps
At the time of the department's post, crews remained on scene and officials had not released details about casualties, displacement or the fire's cause. The department's Facebook post is the primary public update for the incident at this time.
Local context
Cherry Hill crews have been called into Camden for large and second-alarm fires before. A Shore News Network report noted Ladder 1324 assisting at another second-alarm blaze in Camden. Hoodline will update this article as fire officials and county dispatch release further information.
