Eleven people are without homes after a Saturday afternoon fire in Paterson. It happened around 2:30 p.m. on 20th Avenue.
One resident told News 12 that four families lived at the home. It’s unclear if the building has to be demolished.
Neighbors praised the response time from the fire department. Crews knocked down the fire in about an hour.
“There were residents trapped on the second floor,” said Mayor Andre Sayegh. “Thankfully, the firefighters acted quickly enough to ensure that no lives were lost.”
This is the fourth serious fire in Paterson in four weeks.
“They were able to get my dog out, and everybody is safe, but it’s just a really bad feeling,” said resident Amaryllis Baez. “A lifetime of work, just gone up in flames.”
The Red Cross is assisting those who need it. The cause has not yet been determined.