Another abandoned building burns in Camden

A three-alarm fire burned an abandoned warehouse in Camden early Saturday, following a string of similar fires this summer.

The fire started about 6 a.m. at a building on Sixth and Liberty Streets, and it took nearly an hour for firefighters to bring it under control, officials said. Police are investigating whether it could have been intentionally set, said Camden Police Lt. Al Handy.

Camden has had a string of warehouse fires this summer, including a 12-alarm blaze June 9 at a former tire-distribution center. Two days later, an eight-alarm fire gutted a former garment factory in the Waterfront South neighborhood, and a June 19 fire tore through a former detergent plant in East Camden. That third fire was ruled arson, but so far no arrests have been made.

A fourth fire occurred July 5 at a former paint-manufacturing plant at Sixth Street and Carl Miller Boulevard. Tammie Shipp, 35, was charged with aggravated arson after police say she lit a mattress on fire in the building.

Federal authorities are investigating the East Camden fire and have offered a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of those involved. Anyone with information is asked to call 1-888-283-3473.