Camden firefighters knocked down a predawn blaze at an abandoned building, but heavy fire conditions led to a structural collapse

By Rebecca Heath
nj.com

CAMDEN, N.J. — A vacant home in Camden collapsed early Wednesday morning after a fire broke out, officials said.

Crews arrived at 1652 South 8th Street around 4:45 a.m. and had the blaze under control at 5:21 a.m., said Vincent Basara, a spokesperson for the mayor’s office.

| READ NEXT: How to avoid firefighter injuries during structure collapse

No injuries or fatalities were reported from the blaze, but a firefighter suffered a minor injury after slipping on ice, officials said.

No nearby structures were impacted by the fire, Basara said.

Photos taken by Camden resident Ed Hutchinson show flames and smoke billowing from the building’s windows and doors.

The front, side wall and roof of the building collapsed, Basara said.

Officials said the intensity of the blaze and other factors likely caused the collapse. However, the cause of the fire and the exact reason for the collapse remain under investigation.

Collapse

FDNY crews battled heavy fire, a partial collapse and nearly nine hours of operations during a five-alarm matzo factory fire in Brooklyn

December 18, 2025 08:18 AM

 · 

The Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act recognizes occupational cancer as a line-of-duty death for public safety officers, clearing the way for expanded federal benefits

December 18, 2025 11:26 AM

 · 

A Clay County judge revoked the probation of a longtime Kansas City firefighter, citing repeated violations tied to a felony DWI case

December 17, 2025 07:46 AM

Santa Monica’s new Advanced Provider Unit pairs a nurse practitioner with a firefighter/paramedic, freeing ambulances for critical emergencies and reducing unnecessary transports

December 17, 2025 11:16 AM

 · 

©2025 Advance Local Media LLC.
Visit nj.com.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

MagneGrip offers FREE CAD design services to help departments get airflow right from the start

December 11, 2025 05:25 PM