Engine Company 1 was organized on September 2, 1869 as one of the original units of the paid fire department, and entered service on December 7, 1869  at 409 Pine Street in South Camden, occupying quarters that had been built in 1860 and used by the volunteer fire department. New quarters were erected on the same site in 1892, where the company remained until November 2, 1978 when relocated to its present location at Fire Headquarters, 2 North 3rd Street, at North 3rd and Federal Streets, in the center of Camden's downtown district.  The former firehouse at Sout 4th and Pine was sold by the city and was used by a private party as late as 1994.

When first organized, Engine Company 1 consisted of an Engineer, a Driver, a Stoker, and ten extra men (call members).

 The first members of Engine Company 1 are as follows.

Annual salaries for the members of the paid force in  1869 were $600 for the Engineer, $450 for the Driver and the Stoker and $50 for the extra men. All but the extra men were paid monthly. The Chief Marshall received $800, and the Assistant Marshall $200 per year as well.

On May 16, 1870 Camden City Council authorized a contract with builder Abraham Lower to build a brick stable adjacent to the Engine Company 1 headquarters at 409 Pine Street. The building cost $1650.

The first major fire that the new paid Camden Fire Department confronted was on December 320, 1869 at the R.M. English & Company oilcloth factory at Cooper's Point. Almost a year later, on Christmas Morning, December 25, 1870 fire destroyed St. John's Episcopal Church at Broadway and Royden street. This had formerly been a floating chapel anchored on the Philadelphia side of the Delaware River. The wooden church burned to the ground in an hour. A second St. John's was built, only to be lost to fire in 1892, and was replaced by the current building. 

Leadership in the Fire Department at this time was not subject to Civil Service regulations. When the Democrats gained control of City Council in 1876, future mayor Claudius Bradshaw was elected Chief Engineer for the City of Camden, George Horneff, of Engine Company 1 was named as Assistant Engineer, and another Engine 1 member, Thomas McLaughlin, was named as Extra Engineer. Bradshaw and Horneff were both re-elected in 1877. Cornelius Brown was promoted to foreman if Engine Company 1.

With Republicans regaining control of the city in 1879, Samuel Buzine of Engine 1 was named foreman of Engine Company 2. Cornelius Brown continued as Engine 1 foreman. Both men remained in these positions until March 27, 1882. George Tenner was then named Engine Company 1 foreman.  In 1884 Samuel Buzine was named Foreman of Engine Company 1. He was promoted to Assistant Engineer the following year, his place being taken by John Stockton, who later became Chief of the department.. 

Many of the above photographs are from the limited edition book "Fire Department Camden NJ 125 Anniversary 1869-1994". Others are courtesy of Joel Bain of the Camden Fire Department.