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Contact Information:

Professional Firefighters Association of New Jersey (PFANJ)

Matthew Caliente, President

mcaliente@newjerseyfirefighers.org

Release Date:
February 5, 2026

‍‍‍FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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PFANJ MOURNS THE TRAGIC LINE OF DUTY DEATH OF VETERAN CAMDEN FIREFIGHTER

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‍CAMDEN, NJ – February 5, 2026 – The Professional Fire Fighters Association of New Jersey (PFANJ), is heartbroken to share the line of duty death of a longtime member of the Camden Fire Department. This morning, Firefighter Howard Bennett tragically fell through the ice into the Delaware River at the Wiggins Park Marina. Despite the valiant rescue efforts of his fellow brothers and sisters and the medical team at Cooper University Hospital, he succumbed to his injuries.

"Today, the city of Camden and the entire state of New Jersey lost a hero. This tragedy is a stark and painful reminder that the dangers of this profession do not only exist within a burning building. Our members put their lives on the line every single day,“ proclaimed Mathew Caliente, PFANJ President. “We are devastated by the loss of Brother Bennett who dedicated his life to protecting the residents of Camden. Our hearts, our prayers, and our full support are with his family, his friends, and the members of Camden City Firefighters Local 788 and Camden Fire Officers Local 2578 during this unimaginably difficult time."

The PFANJ is working closely with our International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) locals to ensure the family and the department have every resource necessary as they navigate this profound loss. Peer support resources have been on the ground in Camden since early afternoon to assist our members who are grieving, and station coverage is being led by departments who make up Camden County IAFF Local 3249 to give our members who were on duty the time to cope with this tragedy.

More information will be provided as arrangements are finalized. We ask that the public and the media respect the privacy of the family and the department as they mourn.

‍The Professional Firefighters Association of New Jersey (PFANJ), was established and chartered as a State Association by the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) on October 29, 1929. It is a member of the AFL-CIO. The PFANJ represents nearly 3,500 Firefighters, Emergency Medical Technicians, Dispatchers, Fire Inspectors, Instructors, and HazMat Technicians though its over 60 locals. This includes over 3,000 of New Jersey’s approximately 6,000 professional firefighters. Its local affiliates represent first responders who work in dispatch centers, academies, airports, fire districts, suburban municipalities, and the state’s largest and busiest urban fire departments.

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