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| 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."
