This news column looks back at the quotes provided by officials of the Borough of Conshohocken to other news media outlets during the aftermath of the Millennium Fire that left approximately 375 Conshohocken residents homeless on August 13, 2008.
“[It] just went up like a match.”
Mr. Joseph Collins
Mayor
Conshohocken Borough
Quote from Bedford Gazette
August 15, 2008
“To my knowledge, in the apartments all codes were met. The real issue was the building under construction, because that obviously didn’t have all the safety precautions where fire is concerned since it was still being built. With the amount of plywood and glue making up that structure, it went up like a lumber yard and the radiant heat just caused it to spread.”
Mr. John McGrath
Fire Marshall
Conshohocken Borough
Quote from The Phoenix Reporter And Item
August 15, 2008
“We are a small community, and our hearts reach out to everybody who’s been affected.”
Ms. Sandra Caterbone
President
Conshohocken Borough Council
Quote from The Philadelphia Daily News
August 15, 2008
“We obviously had a tragedy, one unlike any we’ve ever had before here in Conshohocken. We are in the midst of bringing together all the agencies we need in order to take care of this situation. We are just lucky to not have had a loss of life or major injury.”
Ms. Sandra Caterbone
President
Conshohocken Borough Council
Quote from The Phoenix Reporter And Item
August 15, 2008
“Every code that needed to be followed was followed.”
Ms. Sandra Caterbone
President
Conshohocken Borough Council
Quote from The Phoenix Reporter And Item
August 15, 2008
“It was a stick building. You’re looking at a lumberyard. Have you ever seen a lumberyard catch fire? That’s the way this building went up.”
Mr. Robert Phipps
Chief
Conshohocken Borough Fire Department
Quote from The Philadelphia Inquirer
August 16, 2008
“It’s really sad on a lot of levels – for the people who live there and for the town. It’s a tragedy. We’re going to have to come together, regroup and rebuild.”
Mr. Jason Salus
Member
Conshohocken Borough Council
Quote from The Times Herald
August 16, 2008
“I can say on the borough’s part, every code that needed to be followed was followed. No exceptions were made. Just ask any developer, Conshohocken is one of the strictest areas when it comes to following the code. Our code officers are totally dedicated and no matter who the developer is, they jump through our hoops, we don’t jump through their’s [sic].”
Ms. Sandra Caterbone
President
Conshohocken Borough Council
Quote from The Mercury
August 19, 2008
“The Borough of Conshohocken is pleased to invite any citizen of the Borough, and any other interested party, to review all of the records of the Borough relating to the Riverwalk complex fire of August 13, 2008. These records include building plans, inspection reports, land development plans, construction notes, engineering reviews and testing reports and other documents relating to the construction of the Riverwalk Complex. The Borough records are available for inspection during regular business hours from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the Administrative Offices of the Borough, located at One West First Avenue, Suite 200, Conshohocken, and will be made available for inspection prior to the next Borough Council meeting, beginning at 6:00 PM on February 4, 2009, at the Public Meeting Hall of Old Borough Hall, Eighth and Fayette Streets, Conshohocken.”
“The Borough of Conshohocken is compliant with the Right to Know Act and endeavors to provide open access to its public records at all times. The records relating to the Riverwalk fire are public records and have been available and continue to be available for public review and inspection at all times since August 14, 2008. All citizens and all interested persons are invited to participate in this Open Records Review. Please contact the Borough offices at 610-828-1092 if you have any questions.”
Quotes from a news release of the Borough of Conshohocken
Released on January 26, 2009
Re-Released by Mr. Jason Salus
Member
Conshohocken Borough Council
January 27, 2009
The first, second, and third photographs are courtesy of Ms. Ying Nichada, August 13, 2008.
The letter from the Conshohocken Fire Department is courtesy of the Spring Mill Fire Company, August of 2008.
The fourth photograph is courtesy of the Keystone Valley Fire Department, August 14, 2008.
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Contact Richard McDonough at freedomvalleychronicles@gmail.com.
© 2018 Richard McDonough