Paterson NJ 4th alarm, 174 12th Ave. 05-28-21

At just before 14:00 on May 28th 2021, Paterson NJ Fire Dispatch started receiving numerous calls for a building fire on 12th ave in the 2nd battalion at the same time that firefighters at the Riverside firehouse on Lafayette St spotted a large column of smoke south of their firehouse. On arrival of E-5, L-3 and BC-2, the companies were faced with a vacant and dilapidated 2 story frame building at 174 12th Ave. fully involved with fire already extending into the both the B exposure, a 2 story brick church that was a former Paterson firehouse and the D exposure a 3 story frame dwelling. A 2nd alarm was immediately transmitted, quickly followed by a 3rd alarm and the 4th alarm in less than 20 minutes. The main fire building collapsed within 10 minutes of arrival as companies worked to knock down the fire in the exposures. The fire took approximately 90 minutes to be placed under control and one elderly woman suffered smoke inhalation and was transported to the hospital. The cause of the fire is under investigation.