The fire broke out just before 11:30 p.m. Friday at a large, block-long abandoned building on Piercy Street. Crews say the structure was already engulfed in flames when the first units arrived on scene.
According to Paterson Deputy Fire Chief Michael Cleenput, firefighters were immediately met with heavy fire conditions throughout the building.
"Right away, we went into defensive mode, which means none of our personnel go inside to operate," Cleenput said. "This is an abandoned building that's known to us. It's been abandoned for approximately 20 years. It was an abandoned chemical factory, so we knew to stay out and maintain a safe distance."
Because of the building's size and the intensity of the fire, alarms were rapidly escalated. A second and third alarm were called almost immediately, followed by a fourth and fifth alarm as conditions worsened. That brought in mutual aid from surrounding communities to help battle the blaze.
Officials say the fight was made significantly more difficult by severe water supply problems.
Fire crews initially had only one operational hydrant available, and even that hydrant had low water pressure, delaying efforts to get an effective fire attack underway. Fire engines had to work in pairs to establish a water feed from more distant hydrants, a process that took time.
Additional complications came from a nearby car dealership, where employees and firefighters scrambled to remove vehicles from the lot to protect them from falling embers. That effort limited access for fire apparatus as crews worked to position equipment safely.
At one point, firefighters were forced to shut down operations and reposition due to the collapse of parts of the structure, which sent debris onto nearby cars. One vehicle caught fire after radiant heat and a collapsing wall ignited it.
Fire officials were also surprised to discover that the vacant building still had a live gas feed, despite being abandoned for decades. Cleenput said a portion of the fire was gas-fed until utility crews located and shut off the correct valves.
"We were lucky they were able to shut it down without having to dig up the street," he said.
In addition, power lines and utility poles along Piercy Street were damaged, forcing officials to cut electricity to the entire block as a precaution.
The chemical materials once housed in the factory were mitigated about a year ago, according to fire officials. However, firefighters say the building's heavy timber construction and possible debris left behind by squatters or vagrants likely contributed to the fire's intensity.
Fire officials are now working alongside the ATF, the Division of Fire Safety and Paterson fire investigators to determine the exact cause of the blaze. Crews are expected to remain on scene throughout the day Saturday, monitoring for hotspots.
Due to the extensive damage and safety concerns, officials say the building will ultimately need to be demolished.
"This is a danger to the community," Cleenput said. "We can't have people going in and out."
Fire operations are expected to continue throughout the day as investigators work to determine what sparked the massive blaze.
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