PASSAIC, NJ - Firefighters battled a labor intensive house fire on Tuesday afternoon, April 13th, that spread through all floors of a large three-and-a-half story home.

Shortly after 2:00 P.M., Passaic dispatch alerted all companies for a reported structure fire at the corner of High Street and Boulevard. Dispatch advised command that they were receiving multiple calls for heavy fire and smoke showing. Command arrived within minutes and reported that he had heavy fire and smoke showing from the rear of the building and transmitted a second-alarm.

Crews stretched multiple lines and attacked the heavy from the rear. Command advised that he had fire showing from the second floor 'Delta' side and live wires down on the second floor deck with conditions deteriorating. A third-alarm was transmitted as exterior lines knocked down the exterior fire, allowing firefighters to make an interior attack.

Ladder 2 took to the roof, cut a vent hole and opened windows on the upper floor. Tower 1 set up on the 'Bravo' side and East Rutherford Tower on the 'Delta' side while crews knocked down the fire on the first and second floors.

As crews battled fire on the lower floors, heavy fire extended to the third floor and attic, and heavy smoke began pushing from the attic. Command ordered all companies out of the building and put all exterior lines into operation. Heavy fire eventually vented through the roof, which was knocked down by ladder pipes.

The fire was extinguished in under two hours, however crews remained on scene knocking down hot spots. Mutual aid from Paterson, Wallington, East Rutherford and Clifton assisted on scene. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and no injuries were reported.