Fire officials, family members, friends and loved ones of veteran Camden, NJ, firefighter Howard Bennett, 61, are expected to gather for funeral services for the fallen husband, father and devoted civil servant on Wednesday.
Starting at 9 a.m. police and fire units are expected to gather at Cherry Hill Mall in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, for a funeral escort to honor Bennett, who served for nearly 27 years and was a member of the Camden Fire Department assigned to Engine 1 and Fire Boat 1.
Officials said that, beginning at about 10:45 a.m., on Thursday, there will be road closures that may lead to traffic delays as a procession will travel along Route 38 as the escort proceeds to Maple Shade.
The procession will travel from Coles Avenue to Route 38, officials said.
According to fire officials, Bennett died on Thursday, Feb. 2026, after falling into the frigid waters of the Delaware River as he was performing a routine maintenance inspection on a fire boat near the Wiggins Park Marina.
He was pulled from the waters shortly afterward, but succumbed to his injures at a nearby hospital.
On Tuesday, New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill ordered flags across the state to be lowered at half-staff to honor and mourn for the fallen firefighter.
“Howard Bennett was a devoted husband, father, brother, and public servant,” said Governor Sherrill in a statement. “He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and fellow firefighters. We are heartbroken by his passing and honor his legacy of service.”
For those who want to honor his memory and decades of service to the community, memorial trees or flowers can be sent to the family in memory of Howard Bennett.
All donations can be made to the Professional Firefighters Assoc. of New Jersey-Emergency Relief Fund at: bit.ly/ffbennett or visits: https://donorbox.org/firefighter-howard-bennett.
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