Greg Taylor reports on Cherry Hill fire

Upon positioning the apparatus company officer reported they now had visible fire showing on the interior of the building and to have Engine 13-22 lay in to the fire and go into operation with an 1 ¾ handline. Battalion 1303 arrived and requested the All Hands struck which brought Squrt 13-31, Ladder 13-44, Additional EMS unit and Rehab 13-8 to the scene as additional apparatus and RIT.

Command reported that all personnel were being evacuated from the building due to HVAC units collapsing into the interior of the structure along with roof collapse. Companies began to secure additional water supplies for the Ladder Companies and for portable monitors. Crews were hampered due to extreme wind conditions that partially led to the fire spread on the interior of the building. Command 1300 requested 2^nd Alarm to be struck which brought Engine 11-31, Burlington Co. Engine 22-12, Squad 13, and Ladder 14-1. Command requested Squad 13 to lay out from the fire to a hydrant opposite of the building on Route 70.

At the height of the fire there was approx 2 Ladder Companies in operation, 1 Squrt, 3 Portable Monitors and Several Handlines in the attempt to extinguish the fire. Companies made an attempt to stop the fire spread to a neighboring business the Porterhouse Steak Restaurant. But with the wind and explosions within the interior of the building, the fire spread to the remainder of the building. Command requested 2 additional Engine Companies into staging, which brought Burlington Co. Engine 10-13 and Engine 14-12.

As of 1010 Hrs Command reported he still had Multiple Master streams in operation with pockets of heavy fire in the Delta side of the building. At 1015 Hrs Command 1300 placed the fire under control.

The fire is under investigation by the Cherry Hill FM’s Office and also to be reported therewere no civilian or firefighter injuries as of the time of this article.