Paterson NJ 4th alarm, 77 Mill St. 08-27-20
Shortly before 02:30 on August 27th, 2020, Paterson NJ fire dispatch started receiving numerous calls for a building fire at 77 Mill St. While enroute the first due battalion reported heavy smoke in the area and dispatch advised that PD was reporting a working fire with numerous people trapped. On arrival, co's encountered heavy fire conditions on all 3 floors of the 3 story frame with a commercial occupant on the 1st floor and apts above. A 2nd alarm was requested as searches commenced looking for any trapped occupants. With conditions rapidly deteriorating command ordered a 3rd alarm and all members to evacuate the building.
Companies had to overcome several conditions which hampered operations, a very narrow street made apparatus placement difficult, heavy fire conditions on arrival, the fire building was attached on both sides and fire was already extending into the Delta exposure, reports of people trapped and access to the rear of the fire building was difficult. With heavy fire through out the original fire building and in exposure D, command requested a 4th alarm which brought mutual aid co's to the scene. 1 occupant was rescued by firefighters after climbing out a 2nd floor window onto an awning and it is reported that police officers removed as many as 15 people prior to the fire department arriving. No injuries were reported and companies had all visible fire extinguished in approximately 90 minutes although the fire was not placed under control until a while later. The main fire building was destroyed and 3 additional buildings, 75, 79 and 81 all sustained damage. Approximately 60 residents were displaced and the cause of the fire is under investigation.
Read MoreCompanies had to overcome several conditions which hampered operations, a very narrow street made apparatus placement difficult, heavy fire conditions on arrival, the fire building was attached on both sides and fire was already extending into the Delta exposure, reports of people trapped and access to the rear of the fire building was difficult. With heavy fire through out the original fire building and in exposure D, command requested a 4th alarm which brought mutual aid co's to the scene. 1 occupant was rescued by firefighters after climbing out a 2nd floor window onto an awning and it is reported that police officers removed as many as 15 people prior to the fire department arriving. No injuries were reported and companies had all visible fire extinguished in approximately 90 minutes although the fire was not placed under control until a while later. The main fire building was destroyed and 3 additional buildings, 75, 79 and 81 all sustained damage. Approximately 60 residents were displaced and the cause of the fire is under investigation.
