At around 0100 hours on the morning of November 9, 2014, Paterson (NJ) Fire Department firefighters responded for a possible structure fire in the area of Godwin Ave and Straight Street (an area with numerous vacant buildings, a high crime rate, and many previous fires).
On arrival, companies found a vacant 2-1/2 story frame dwelling fully involved with fire already extending into exposure B a 2-1/2 story frame occupied multiple dwelling (OMD) and exposure D a three-story frame OMD.
A second alarm was requested quickly followed by the fourth alarm (bypassing the third) as fire threatened to extend into additional buildings; the original fire building was a total loss and suffered a major collapse shortly after arrival, but companies attempted an offensive attack in the exposures before conditions forced the incident commander to pull everyone out and go defensive.
More than a dozen people were left homeless but no injuries were reported.
See more photos from this fire HERE.
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