Passaic NJ 4th alarm, 165 & 163 Harrison St. 02-01-17

At just before 2100 hours on February 1st, 2017, Passaic NJ Fire Dept responded to 165 Harrison St for a reported fire. While in route, dispatch advised BC-3, Battalion Chief Chris Szczygiel that the police were reporting visible flames from the basement. On arrival, a working fire was declared quickly followed by a request for a 2nd alarm, as occupants were being removed, interior crews reported high heat, zero visibility and unable to find the seat of the fire in the basement due to it being divided into numerous rooms, fire was also visible on the 1st floor and extending into exposure B. A 3rd alarm was requested with an urgent request for PSE&G due to live wires coming down and forcing L-2 to be quickly relocated, at this point command reported "2" 2-1/5 story frames heavily involved. All members were evacuated from both fire buildings as fire was located on all floors of the original and heavy fire was on the 2nd floor and through the roof of exposure B. 1 ladder pipe, 1 deck gun, 2 blitzfires and numerous hand lines were put into operation. Lines were stretched into exposure D and companies were successful in keeping the fire from extending despite a 2 foot separation between it and the main fire building. At 2130 command requested a 4th alarm and at 2150 a request was made for the water dept to boost pressure in the area. Chief of Dept Trentacost reported the fire contained at 2300 but it was not under control for about another hour. Both buildings were destroyed leaving 20 people displaced and one resident injured, no firefighters were injured and the cause is under investigation.