Incident Name: Dutchtown Rd Fire, NJ
Date: March 26, 1943, 1552 hrs
Personnel: 4 young lives lost
Age:
Agency/Organization: New Jersey Forest Fire Service
Position: firefighters
Summary:
The diseased were:
Carl Luderitz, age 16
Ralph Luderitz, age 17
Alfred Ingersal, age 19
Bill Hoover, age 27
On March 26, 1943 a large fire occurred west of the community of Elwood, Mullica Township, Atlantic County, NJ. The fire was reported at 1552 hrs. and was most probably started by a train (Pennsylvania Rail Road).
Fire fighters were attempting to hold a backfire along Dutchtown Road. NJFFS Engine C7 (Motorized unit #14 based in Mayslanding) were instructed to assist in holding the fire. The engine crew drove into the site of a cabin, turned around and proceeded out Dutchtown Road toward Columbia Rd. Witnesses stated that the wind increased and caused the main fire to cross Dutchtown Road at the location of Engine C7. As the fire got close to the engine the entire crew (four firefighters) got into the cab of the truck. The truck stalled and caught fire. All four exited the cab. Two were found dead at the scene, two died later in the hospital.. All from burns.
The investigation report stated “Because of the fact of their age, more intensive training was given to this crew than to the average operators and when on major fires always worked under the direct supervision of a qualified Warden.”
“This crew has proven it self in the operation of the truck that they were appointed as patrol crews, the foreman received $130, the helpers $100 a month.”
The report also stated that another fire fighter received burnt ankles and the Section Forest Fire Warden (IC) was “laid up for two weeks due to illness caused by this fire”.
NJFFS 1943 Memorial at Mayslanding Fire House, NJ
Maps
Approx. Location of the accident site: Dutchtown Rd, east of Columbia Rd, Mullica Twp.
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A memorial stone was placed at the Maylanding Fire House commemorating these deaths and that of another fire fighter who died in 1940.
Location on the Memorial: Reliance Ave, Mayslanding: N39.45054 W74.73569
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Contributors to this article: Bill Edwards, RJM
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