Six-Alarm Fire Destroys Warehouse In Camden

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – A huge multi-alarm fire in Camden is under control but firefighters continue to wet down scattered hot spots. Fire officials placed this latest Camden blaze under control in just over three hours.

It was 8:21 a.m. Sunday morning when word was received that the huge fire was under control. There were no known injuries. This multi-alarm fire at the vacant Concord Chemical Company along Federal Street near 17th Street officially is being called 6-alarms with a number of special calls. The fire was reported just after 5:00 a.m., according to the fire chief.

The vacant building which had been a three story structure was destroyed. Thick black smoke from the huge fire could be seen for many miles at the height of the blaze. Evacuations of all nearby occupied buildings were undertaken as a precaution.

At one time, the Concord Chemical Company produced compounds used in soap and detergent products. And this vacant building was deemed an EPA site for hazardous waste cleanup but the EPA did secure the site last May when all those hazardous wastes were removed. As this site cools, an investigation will get underway to determine a cause.

There are unconfirmed reports that there was suspicious activity in that area around the time the fire started. The ATF, the Camden County Prosecutor's office and the Camden County Fire Marshall are all investigating.

This is the third major multi-alarm fire in Camden in the past two weeks.

Reported By Al Novack, KYW Newsradio; Jericka Duncan CBS3