Two-alarm fire at Sears building in Camden

Firefighters battled a two-alarm blaze today at the landmark Sears building in Camden.

The fire in the rear of the vacant commercial building on Admiral Wilson Boulevard was reported shortly before 1 p.m. and under control within 20 minutes, Camden Fire Chief Michael Harper said.

No one was injured in the fire, which was contained to an area on the first floor, Harper said. An investigation into the cause of the blaze is underway.

Camden-based Campbell Soup Co. owns the four-acre site and plans to demolish the building to make room for an office park. Sears closed the 120,000-square-foot store in 1971 after 44 years in operation at the location.

Most of the building's contents had been removed in preparation for demolition, Harper said.