Another major Camden fire

A second major fire raged in as many days as a blaze tore through an old commercial building in Camden this morning.

A Camden County fire official said the city fire department was dispatched at 2:26 a.m. to fight a blaze on the 400 block of Winslow Street at the Howland Croft building, which took up most of the street.  There were no reported injuries by 6 a.m. when the fire was deemed under control.

However, the fire grew to 8 alarms at what was reported to be an old textile factory.  Further details were not available.  Up to 30 residents had been displaced and about 20 fire companies responded.

It was the second major fire in an old building in as many days.

On Thursday, a fire broke out in a vacant building, which was rented by the Reliable Tire Co. between 1964 and 1999.   Mayor Dana L. Redd said city officials were setting up a relief fund for those affected. At least 65 people were unable to return home, city officials said.

Twenty-three buildings burned in that blaze, which started about 4:30 p.m. Thursday and was declared under control shortly after 9 p.m. Four firefighters and one civilian were treated for smoke inhalation.