420 Woodbury - Turnersville Road | Blackwood, New Jersey 08012 | (856) 374 - 6176
History
The Camden County Fire Marshal Office was founded when N.J. Title 40A:14-1 was enacted in 1941 by the State Legislature. The law
was revised in 1971 and has basically remained the same since then. Today, the County Fire Marshal is charged with the duty to
investigate all fire related fatalities and serious injuries to citizens and emergency responders. In addition to fire
investigations, the County Fire Marshal is responsible for enforcement of the NJ Uniform Fire Code in all county
buildings, along with fire training education and juvenile fire setting intervention.
Individuals that served in the position as County Fire Marshal before the office became a full-time career agency, were Chief Watson, Merchantville, Chief Cox, Haddonfield, Chief McKinney Brooklawn and Chief Walter Klaus of Gloucester City. All of these individuals served in this capacity part-time.
Following Chief Walter Klaus was David G. Aron of Oaklyn who began as a part-time Official until 1972. In 1973, David G. Aron was appointed the first full-time Chief County Fire Marshal in the state of New Jersey, who operated his office from the front porch of his home. Through Chief Aron’s tenure, the Fire Marshal Office moved several locations until its present location at the Camden County Regional Emergency Training Center, Blackwood.
The first part-time Assistant Fire Marshal was Thomas Boswell, former Chief of the Blackwood Fire Company Station 84, followed by Dan Cimini, Chief of the Runnemede Fire Company Station 75, who became the first full-time Assistant Fire Marshal.
On July 04, 2002 the Camden County Fire Marshal Office suffered its first Line of Duty death. John D. West Sr. of Mt. Ephraim Fire Department was on scene of a dwelling fire in Gloucester City, and died with two brother firefighters while attempting to save three little girls. John served the Fire Marshal’s Office as the first K-9 handler and was ATF certified in arson detection.
Betty Fehlinger was the first secretary in February, 1979 and served until her retirement.
In the 1980’s, a program was established for the Juvenile fire-setter problem in Camden County. This program, crafted by Assistant Fire Marshal, Anthony Braig taught fire service representatives how to identify possible Juvenile problems and to direct them through the program benefits. At his retirement, Andy Braig turned over the program direction to Tammy DeLucca, who still serves as the director today. The FireWatch Program has grown to become a model program in our State, as well as the region, and still services approximately one hundred (100) juveniles each year.
The duties and responsibilities of the office have changed over the years. Once serving all Camden County Communities with fire investigation services, today the local fire official is charged with that responsibility. In 2009 the fire marshal office had logged over 600 responses to the communities, however with a reduction in staffing the responses are around 100 calls a year. Today, this office remains poised to respond to any request, and maintains diligence in assisting all emergency responders. Fire Prevention remains the focus of the fire marshal duties, and assistance is provided to all the Camden County departments with smoke detector distribution and services.
The first vehicle county fire marshal vehicle was a 1973 Ford station wagon. At the present time, the fire marshal office utilizes a 2014 Ford F-150 with a storage cap for all investigative supplies and equipment, per NFPA requirements.
For a FREE smoke detector, please contact your local fire company. They will be happy meet and assist you with your safety needs.
Individuals that served in the position as County Fire Marshal before the office became a full-time career agency, were Chief Watson, Merchantville, Chief Cox, Haddonfield, Chief McKinney Brooklawn and Chief Walter Klaus of Gloucester City. All of these individuals served in this capacity part-time.
Following Chief Walter Klaus was David G. Aron of Oaklyn who began as a part-time Official until 1972. In 1973, David G. Aron was appointed the first full-time Chief County Fire Marshal in the state of New Jersey, who operated his office from the front porch of his home. Through Chief Aron’s tenure, the Fire Marshal Office moved several locations until its present location at the Camden County Regional Emergency Training Center, Blackwood.
The first part-time Assistant Fire Marshal was Thomas Boswell, former Chief of the Blackwood Fire Company Station 84, followed by Dan Cimini, Chief of the Runnemede Fire Company Station 75, who became the first full-time Assistant Fire Marshal.
Career Chief Fire Marshal’s:
 |
Joseph P. Hales Jr. | Lindenwold / Present Day |
|
|
Paul C. Sandrock Jr. | Bellmawr / Retired |
|
|
Paul E. Hartstein | Audubon, Retired / Deceased |
|
|
David G. Aron | Oaklyn, Retired |
Other individuals that served in the Fire Marshal Office:
| Baldino, Kenneth | Winslow |
| Baldwin, Phil | Magnolia |
| Braig, Anthony | Erial |
| Burleigh, James | Bellmawr |
| Busch, Ernie | Pennsauken |
| Dannenfelser, Gene | Haddon Heights |
| DeLucca, Tammy | Lindenwold |
| DePierri, Steve | Barrington |
| Dukes, William | Pine Hill |
| Garbrecht, Fred | Oaklyn |
| Gill, Ian | Clementon |
| Honer, John | Lindenwold |
| Houck, Jay | Barrington |
| Jackson, Joseph | Berlin Township |
| Loverdi, Fred | Runnemede |
| McGinley, Patrick | Westmont |
| Medlar, Robert | Mt. Ephraim |
| Pantalone, Jay | Blackwood |
| Powell, Jack | Gloucester City |
| Reichert Sr. Joseph | Chews Landing |
| Scardino, Michael | Winslow |
| Sheppard, Gene | Pennsauken |
| Sheppard, Ryan | Pennsauken |
| West John | Mt. Ephraim – Honor Roll |
| Wise, Dave | Haddon Township |
On July 04, 2002 the Camden County Fire Marshal Office suffered its first Line of Duty death. John D. West Sr. of Mt. Ephraim Fire Department was on scene of a dwelling fire in Gloucester City, and died with two brother firefighters while attempting to save three little girls. John served the Fire Marshal’s Office as the first K-9 handler and was ATF certified in arson detection.
Betty Fehlinger was the first secretary in February, 1979 and served until her retirement.
In the 1980’s, a program was established for the Juvenile fire-setter problem in Camden County. This program, crafted by Assistant Fire Marshal, Anthony Braig taught fire service representatives how to identify possible Juvenile problems and to direct them through the program benefits. At his retirement, Andy Braig turned over the program direction to Tammy DeLucca, who still serves as the director today. The FireWatch Program has grown to become a model program in our State, as well as the region, and still services approximately one hundred (100) juveniles each year.
The duties and responsibilities of the office have changed over the years. Once serving all Camden County Communities with fire investigation services, today the local fire official is charged with that responsibility. In 2009 the fire marshal office had logged over 600 responses to the communities, however with a reduction in staffing the responses are around 100 calls a year. Today, this office remains poised to respond to any request, and maintains diligence in assisting all emergency responders. Fire Prevention remains the focus of the fire marshal duties, and assistance is provided to all the Camden County departments with smoke detector distribution and services.
The first vehicle county fire marshal vehicle was a 1973 Ford station wagon. At the present time, the fire marshal office utilizes a 2014 Ford F-150 with a storage cap for all investigative supplies and equipment, per NFPA requirements.
For a FREE smoke detector, please contact your local fire company. They will be happy meet and assist you with your safety needs.