PATERSON, NJ - A three-alarm fire tore through a large commercial building in Paterson with a bow-string truss roof early on May 22nd. The building was destroyed, but there were no reports of serious injuries.

Companies were dispatched to Levine Industries, at 21 Florida Ave., shortly after 4:30 A.M. Heavy fire from the front greeted the first arriving companies. With some explosions and collapses, a second-alarm was quickly transmitted. As the fire consumed the building, firefighters worked to keep the flames from spreading to the exposure buildings. Thick black smoke and embers covered the area. A third-alarm was called for to help with manpower. The large truss assemblies soon collapsed into the interior.

Three elevated master streams, several ground monitors, and multiple handlines held the flames, but the damage to the building and contents was complete. The exposure buildings were opened up and any minor extension of the fire was quickly quelled. By 5:45 A.M., most visible fire was knocked down. The black smoke had turned to gray and members were able to breathe a little easier. Fire Marshalls were called in to investigate.