One firefighter and two residents were injured as a three-alarm fire extended through the upper floors of a large structure in Paterson on Aug. 10.
At about 9:45 p.m. Paterson companies were dispatched to 977 Main St. for a fire. Before the arrival of fire units, a good Samaritan is reported to have removed several residents.
Several residents were seen hanging on the fire escapes as units arrived. Heavy fire was showing from several second floor windows in the rear of the large two-and three-story frame residential over a store. A second alarm was immediately transmitted.
A third alarm followed shortly as flames spread up to the third floor and eventually through vent holes and several handlines were placed into operation.
As the conditions deteriorated, all members were withdrawn from the structure and Truck 1’s bucket was utilized to flow heavy master streams. As the flames slowly consumed a large part of the roof, an additional two engines and one truck were called so members could rotate due to the high heat and humidity.
By about 11:00, most of the fire had been knocked down and companies including Hackensack and Hawthorne units re-entered the structure for overhaul. The fire was able to be placed under control just after midnight.
