James Nelson Ake was a well-respected businessman of Egg Harbor City who held several positions of importance in Egg Harbor City and Hammonton. He was a Director of three different banking institutions (Egg Harbor City Commercial Bank, Egg Harbor City Bank & Loan Association, Hammonton Trust Company), secretary and treasurer of both the Egg Harbor and Hammonton Coal & Lumber Companies, treasurer of the Egg Harbor City Fire Department, a member of the Egg Harbor City Board of Health and an active firefighter.
At about 1:00AM on 09DEC1920, he answered a call that brought an end to his life. A worker was repairing a a truck in the garage of the Enterprise Clothing Co. and had drained the gasoline from its tank. At some point, a nearby lantern ignited the fumes, setting the garage afire and severely burning the worker who managed to call for the Fire Department. During the course of the fire, a nearby electric light pole fell, crushing Mr. Ake's head and breaking his neck and severely injuring two other firefighters. Mr. Ake became the first member of the Egg Harbor City Fire Department to lose his life while performing his duties as a firefighter. It was not until 1992 that another firefighter in Egg Harbor City would lose his life on the way to a fire.
At about 1:00AM on 09DEC1920, he answered a call that brought an end to his life. A worker was repairing a a truck in the garage of the Enterprise Clothing Co. and had drained the gasoline from its tank. At some point, a nearby lantern ignited the fumes, setting the garage afire and severely burning the worker who managed to call for the Fire Department. During the course of the fire, a nearby electric light pole fell, crushing Mr. Ake's head and breaking his neck and severely injuring two other firefighters. Mr. Ake became the first member of the Egg Harbor City Fire Department to lose his life while performing his duties as a firefighter. It was not until 1992 that another firefighter in Egg Harbor City would lose his life on the way to a fire.
James Nelson Ake was a well-respected businessman of Egg Harbor City who held several positions of importance in Egg Harbor City and Hammonton. He was a Director of three different banking institutions (Egg Harbor City Commercial Bank, Egg Harbor City Bank & Loan Association, Hammonton Trust Company), secretary and treasurer of both the Egg Harbor and Hammonton Coal & Lumber Companies, treasurer of the Egg Harbor City Fire Department, a member of the Egg Harbor City Board of Health and an active firefighter.
At about 1:00AM on 09DEC1920, he answered a call that brought an end to his life. A worker was repairing a a truck in the garage of the Enterprise Clothing Co. and had drained the gasoline from its tank. At some point, a nearby lantern ignited the fumes, setting the garage afire and severely burning the worker who managed to call for the Fire Department. During the course of the fire, a nearby electric light pole fell, crushing Mr. Ake's head and breaking his neck and severely injuring two other firefighters. Mr. Ake became the first member of the Egg Harbor City Fire Department to lose his life while performing his duties as a firefighter. It was not until 1992 that another firefighter in Egg Harbor City would lose his life on the way to a fire.
At about 1:00AM on 09DEC1920, he answered a call that brought an end to his life. A worker was repairing a a truck in the garage of the Enterprise Clothing Co. and had drained the gasoline from its tank. At some point, a nearby lantern ignited the fumes, setting the garage afire and severely burning the worker who managed to call for the Fire Department. During the course of the fire, a nearby electric light pole fell, crushing Mr. Ake's head and breaking his neck and severely injuring two other firefighters. Mr. Ake became the first member of the Egg Harbor City Fire Department to lose his life while performing his duties as a firefighter. It was not until 1992 that another firefighter in Egg Harbor City would lose his life on the way to a fire.
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