PATERSON, NJ - A boarded up, two-and-a-half story frame dwelling was consumed by flames on a frigid February 15th morning, leaving little of the structure remaining.

When first due units pulled out of the Riverside Firehouse at about 5:45 A.M., they immediately knew they had a job. Heavy smoke and fire was venting from all floors of a home at 142 Lafayette Ave., just a couple blocks from the firehouse. Searches were not possible due to the heavy fire.

Companies quickly went to work establishing water supplies to protect the exposures. Luckily there were vacant lots on either side of the fire building, but the high heat caused minor extension to both exposures. A second-alarm was called for manpower as two elevated master streams, several lines attacking the fire building, and lines stretched into the exposure building were necessary to hold the flames.

The roof soon collapsed in followed by the outside walls, leaving only part of the front wall standing. The heavy fire slowly darkened down, and in about one hour the fire could be contained, then placed under control at about 7:30 A.M. Ice covered much of the fireground, causing numerous slips and falls, but no serious injuries.

The cause is under investigation, but squatters that were known to live there is being looked into.