At approximately 10:30 AM on March 4^th, a fire unit radioed in to dispatch that a large column was showing from the area of Market Street and Madison Ave. Units arrived shortly to two large 2 ½ story frame OMDs at 798 Madison Avenue with heavy fire in the narrow space between the buildings and extending into both structures on multiple floors. A second alarm was immediately transmitted. An interior attack and search was initiated but conditions deteriorated and all members were withdrawn. A captain received second degree burns and was transported to Saint Joseph’s Medical Center. Reports were being received that there was possibly a child unaccounted for and still inside. A third alarm was sounded as companies re-entered. Locating nobody, members were withdrawn again. 

798 Madison Ave. was heavily involved on all floors, 796 also had fire on all floors. Two tower ladders, one ladder pipe, and several hand lines were opera ting to hold the flames to the two structures. A collapse zone was established on the “B” side of the main fire building. Flames broke through the roof and solar panels collapsed in. Heavy smoke blanketed the area. By noon most of the visible flames had been extinguished.

The fire apparently originated in the basement of 798 Madison Avenue and quickly spread upward. The cause is being investigated. Thirty Three resident were reported to have been left homeless. The fire captain was the only burn injury, three residents were transported with smoke inhalation. The missing child was corrected to be an older resident that was located outside the structures unharmed, Clifton and Passaic assisted at the scene.