A towering late-night fire tore through a Paterson industrial building, throwing a column of thick smoke into the sky and washing the neighborhood in an eerie orange glow. Fire crews battled the flames for hours as neighbors watched from behind police tape and emergency personnel locked down the surrounding streets. Officials said there were no reported injuries, but the blaze damaged utility lines and scorched nearby vehicles.
Drone Video Lays Bare Scope Of Paterson Fire
Drone footage shared by CBS News shows flames blasting out of multiple stories and a thick plume of smoke rising above the structure near East Main Street. From overhead, the video makes clear how fast the fire chewed through the roofline and exterior walls. It also highlights the large footprint firefighters had to secure as they attacked the blaze from outside the building.
Five-Alarm Blaze Engulfs Piercy Street Factory
Local outlets later identified the fire as a five-alarm inferno that ripped through a block-long, abandoned chemical factory on Piercy Street shortly before 11:30 p.m. Friday, according to ABC7 New York. "Right away, we went into defensive mode, which means none of our personnel go inside to operate," Deputy Fire Chief Michael Cleenput told the station while describing heavy fire conditions. Mutual aid companies from neighboring communities were called in as crews scrambled to establish water supplies and shield nearby buildings.
Hydrant Problems, Gas Line And Collapse Fears Slow Crews
Local reporting published by AOL - drawing on NorthJersey.com - notes that firefighters initially found only a few working hydrants in the area, complicating efforts to get enough water on the flames. Utility crews had to cut a live gas feed running into the vacant factory, and portions of the heavy-timber structure collapsed during the fire, sending debris onto parked cars and forcing firefighters to repeatedly reposition for safety. Photographs circulated by local outlets showed bright orange flames punching through the roof as teams hunted for hotspots.
Investigators Called In As Demolition Looms
ABC7 New York reports that the ATF, the New Jersey Division of Fire Safety and Paterson fire investigators have all been brought in to determine what sparked the blaze. Officials said the charred structure will likely have to be demolished in the interest of public safety. "This is a danger to the community," Deputy Chief Cleenput said, according to the station. Crews were expected to remain on site to watch for flare-ups while utility repairs and cleanup work moved ahead.
City officials asked residents to avoid the affected blocks, follow official Paterson channels for word on detours and power restoration, and give work crews space to do their jobs. This story will be updated as investigators share findings and the city releases more information on recovery plans.
