Asbestos and hazmat removal in the nick of time in Camden

The former Concord Chemical Inc. (Photo courtesy of DVRBS)

A little late with this one, but you'll have to forgive me--I don't look across the Delaware often enough, and sometimes I'm a little late getting the Jersey news. And what a story this one is: a possible arsonist on the loose in Camden, plus 2010 budget cutbacks in the fire department (always a good idea, shrinking the service that keeps us all from catching fire), bringing on some federal involvement in the form of the ATF.

Oh, and one more thing: a near-miss on chemical explosions and potentially fatal asbestos exposure for the firefighters sent to put out the six-alarm blaze. You see what you miss when you turn your back on Jersey?

(Image courtesy of DVRBS)

Asbestos and "400 containers of hazardous, flammable chemicals" on the scene were declared completely removed by the EPA in March, after a six month cleaning process. Spokesman for the [Camden] Mayor's Office Robert Corrales said: "It could have been really bad." 


Corrales was referring to the hundred of barrels of flammable chemicals and asbestos which, though undeniably fireproof, would have been spread throughout the neighborhood, contaminating a community already devastated by two previous fires set this month.


The Concord Chemical factory had interesting history. Historians at the Delaware Valley Rhythm & Blues Society gave a brief (but very informative) summary of the now-burnt property's history:

The Dobbins Soap Manufacturing Company, founded in 1863, had a factory in Philadelphia at Germantown Ave, Susquehanna Ave, and the southwest corner of Marshall Street which they had remodeled in 1864 and 1865. Owned by the Cragin family, by 1887 the firm had built a factory on the southwest corner of 17th Street and Federal Street, where they operated until 1934. George Cragin was the superintendent from 1887 through 1906, Louis Bresset had the position in 1914, and Alex Macfeat had it in 1924.

The plant was acquired by the Iowa Soap Company, which operated the facility into the late 1940s. At some point after 1959 the Concord Chemical Company moved its operations from 205 South 2nd Street to this building, which is still into the late-2000s. The building was then abandoned, and an EPA team did a clean-up in 2010.

On June 19, 2011 the old soap factory, known roughly 50 years as the Concord Chemical factory, was destroyed by fire.

One product that used to be made at 17th & Federal (Photo from DVRBS)

Great stuff. (The history, not the fire.) The idea of an arsonist on the loose in the Philly area really creeps me out. Behavioral scientists say that bed-wetting, arson, and cruelty to animals are three traits that most serial killers display in their youth. Not saying the arsonist or arsonists are serial killers, but I would not be surprised if this person/ group of people were responsible for some other crimes.


Well that's all for today in asbestos/ arson news. Let's hope it stays that way, for the safety of the people of Camden and Philadelphia. Much love to the Camden Fire Department. I'm glad they were not exposed to asbestos as so many firefighters have been in the past, and even more than the asbestos, I am glad the chemicals were removed. Fires are dangerous enough without gigantic explosions.

A Camden firefighter puts out the six-alarm blaze. (Photo courtesy of DVRBS)