Engine Company 5 was organized and entered service on July 1, 1905 at 1401 Federal Street, from where it could serve the upper reaches of Center City, North Camden, and lend assistance to East Camden and Cramer Hill. Edgar Boulton was selected in May of 1905 to be the new company's first Captain. Charles Worthington, who would rise to the rank of Chief of Department was also assigned there.

The Company was displaced from its headquarter in 1926 when the firehouse apron at grade (street) level was obstructed by the newly-built Fourteenth Street Viaduct, which crosses the Admiral Wilson Boulevard adjacent to the railroad line. Engine Company 5 at that point was relocated to the 27th Street and Federal Street headquarters of Engine Company 9 in East Camden.  The unit was disbanded on January 1, 1933 for budgetary reasons, as the city like so many other New Jersey municipalities was in  was in dire financial straits brought on by the Depression.

The former firehouse at 14th and Federal Street was used by the City of Camden until 1986, when it was torn down.

Many of the Fire Department photographs on this website 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.