At 4:14pm on May 5, 2007, Cherry Hill Firefighters responded to a reported house fire at 133 S. Mansfield Boulevard in the Haddontown neighborhood. Multiple callers dialed 911 to report smoke coming from the corner property.
Cherry Hill Firefighters, from Fire Station 6 were just around the corner performing a neighborhood follow-up to a fire that occurred on March 12 at 45 Plymouth Drive. Firefighters had just started to walk the neighborhood: distributing fire safety literature; testing smoke detectors and replacing smoke detector batteries when they received the call to respond. As the initial response teams raced to the scene, fire dispatchers alerted them there were received reports a person was trapped in the home.
Acting Battalion Chief, Ken Baum, a 17- year veteran commanding his first serious fire, transmitted the “All Hands” signal requesting additional CHFD units to the scene.
Firefighters from Engine 6 arrived and reported smoke showing from the one-story home. They immediately forced entry into the home to locate the fire. Firefighters from Ladder 4 arrived and began to search the interior of the home for any occupants. The initial search team working in the smoke filled home completed a systematic search but did not locate anyone inside. As a second search began, Cherry Hill police officers on scene worked with neighbors to determine the resident’s whereabouts.
Within about 6 minutes of fire department arrival, it was confirmed by the search and rescue teams that the homeowner was not present. However, the resident’s long time pet dog, Winston, had perished while sleeping in a front bedroom.
The Cherry Hill Fire Marshal ruled the fire, which originated in the kitchen and caused extensive damage inside the home, as accidental. The fire originated in the kitchen refrigerator due to a mechanical failure.
Twenty five (25) Cherry Hill Firefighters quickly brought this fire under control within twenty-five minutes. Chief Giorgio remarked, “There where some tense moments as our firefighters worked to locate the homeowner. I am proud of their efforts and commend Acting Battalion Chief Baum on his command presence at this fire”.
