HALFWAY HOUSE, PATERSON - 2019

Photo: Straight & Narrow website

Photo: Straight & Narrow website

On Aug. 24, 2019, a five-alarm fire destroyed Paterson's largest halfway house. 

The blaze at Straight and Narrow, 410 Straight St., displaced 200 people but there were no injuries despite the intensity of the flames.

The smoke plume was visible for miles.

A statement issued by Straight and Narrow said:

"A small isolated blaze quickly turned into a five-alarm fire, sending plumes of black smoke into the air.

"Thank you to our working Straight and Narrow employees, who, when the alarm sounded, acted diligently and professionally. Our service recipients evacuated quickly and calmly, and none of our employees or clients were hurt."

The statement also said:

"It is times like these that our community comes together and we have many people to thank. We would especially like to acknowledge: 

"Paterson's brave firefighters, police officers and all first responders for their quick action which prevented an even worse disaster.  Special thanks to Fire Chief Brian McDermott, Police Director Jerry Speziale, and Police Chief Troy Oswald.

"The additional fire departments who bravely assisted including Boonton, Parsipanny, Bloomfield, Pompton Lakes, Fairfield, Wanaque, Wyckoff and West Milford."

Six Alarms in June

Earlier in the summer, on June 25, a six-alarm fire destroyed a row of homes on Summer Street in Paterson, Channel 7 Eyewitness News reported. Firefighters suffered heat exhaustion. "It really is very stewy out here, and it's taken down our firefighters," Fire Chief Brian McDermott said.

FRANKLIN LAKES - 1950s

Photo: Franklin Lakes Fire Department
Franklin Lakes firefighters testing flame retardant gear in 1950s.

METZLER'S - 1960s

Photos: patersonfirehistory.com

Metzler Ambulance Service provided emergency aid and transport in the City of Paterson in the 1960s. The Paterson Fire Department assumed responsibility in 1970.

ANARCHIST BOMBINGS - 1919

Paterson and other major American cities were the target of anarchist bombings in the spring of 1919. The bombers were said to be followers of Luigi Galleani, who settled in Paterson from his native Italy. The anarchist movement was aimed at overthrowing the U.S. government and Paterson was a hive of activity.   

HAMILTON MILLWORK - 1936

Photo: Paterson Fire History  [From Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison]

Hamilton Millwork
Oregon Avenue and Gray Street, Paterson 
Dec. 10, 1936
3rd alarm @ Box  555

PATERSON CARPET MILL - 1930

Photos: Fire Engineering

On Sept. 9, 1930, fire gutted the Lamond & Robertson Carpet Mill at 26 Branch Street in Paterson.

The city's entire fire force responded to the general alarm at Box 623, aided by crews from Prospect Park, Fairlawn, Wortendyke, Hawthorne, Haledon, West Paterson and Little Falls.

Several people were injured, among them Paterson firefighter Henry Donaldson of Engine Company 2, who suffered a cut to his left hand, according to newspaper reports.

Fire Engineering magazine reported:

"The blaze started in the jute storage room, and with the rapidity of an explosion, spread to other sections of the L-shaped brick building. The first alarm was turned in at 11:25 a.m. the second and third shortly afterwards, and the general alarm was sent at 11:40. As a safety measure, children in a public school three blocks distant were not permitted to leave for their luncheon recess.

"The Associated Piece Dyeing Works, which adjoined the carpet mill, was also damaged. Two hundred employees in the two plants hastily rushed to the street. Several persons were injured when they jumped to safety from the second floor. Two firemen were injured when caught by flying debris. There was considerable confusion, when due to the large dense clouds that spread over the city, rumors started that many were trapped by the fire. A check-up by the police revealed that all employees were out of the building.

"In addition to the damage to the two factories, flames spread to a frame building and destroyed it. The total damage has been roughly estimated at $500,000."

NEW MILFORD - 1943

2 FIREMEN  KILLED IN CRASH

New Milford, N.J., Nov. 29 - A fire engine, speeding to a brush fire which later burned itself out and an Interstate bus collided in the center of this community yesterday, killing two volunteer firemen and injuring several other persons including two women bus passengers.

The crew of the fire truck was scattered over the pavement in the collision, while the bus carried through a store window and came to a halt halfway inside the shop.

Police Chief HARRY L. JORDAN identified the dead firemen as battalion chief WILLIAM BLISS, 46, who died of his injuries at Holy Name hospital, Teaneck and PHILIP KERR, 50, whose head was crushed under one of the vehicles.

Gettysburg Times, Nov. 29, 1943

CITY OF PASSAIC - 1951

Photos: Fire Engineering

Four major fires struck the City of Passaic in the spring of 1951.

On April 19, a general alarm blaze gutted the roof and top floor of the five-story Tudor Court Apartment House, damaging or destroying almost 100 apartments and about a dozen businesses.

On May 4, a flash fire killed a mother and three children in a downtown tenement.

On June 4, a general alarm fire destroyed the Arrow Electric Company, two textile mills and three shops. Twenty-seven businesses suffered smoke or water.

Then, on June 11, a general alarm fire destroyed the downtown Silver Rod Cut Rate Drug Store, Vogue Millinery Shops and Rogers Clothing Company.

At the Arrow Electric conflagration, flames devoured "large stocks of phonograph records and a 1,200 gallon oil tank in the basement," according to the July 1, 1951 edition of Fire Engineering.

"After this, the fire spread through vertical openings to involve the first and then the second floor, where it fed on a quantity of cloth and barrels of dyes and chemicals."

"Heavy machinery on the second floor caused it to collapse, as did the roof of the building."

The building didn't have automatic sprinklers.

At the height of the fire, more than 20 lines were playing on the flames.

"One wall of the Arrow building bulged out about a foot, and cracked badly enough to cause men and equipment to be moved," Fire Engineering said.

"The wind, though gentle, changed direction frequently from east to west and added to the firemen’s woes, as dense smoke rolled through the streets for blocks."

Arrow Electric response:

• First Alarm @ 3:13 p.m. via street box: Engine 1, Engine 3, Truck 1, Emergency Squad
• Second Alarm @ 3:16 p.m.: Engine 6