PASSAIC, NJ - A three-alarm fire raced through two storefronts and apartments directly above them in a three-story building at the corner of Main Avenue and Madison Street beginning around 1:30 AM on July 5th. 

At 1:32 AM, companies were dispatched to 733 Main Ave. on an alarm activation. Battalion Chief James Kovacs arrived with heavy smoke showing and struck a second alarm. The fire, which began on the ground floor store, quickly extended to the upper floors. 

A third alarm was struck as heavy fire and smoke backed crews out of the building. They were eventually forced to go defensive, with Passaic Truck 1 and East Rutherford Truck 1 going into operation with their master streams to knock down the heavy fire.

The Christian Mission behind the building on Madison St. was an exposure, but was well protected. Passaic firefighters removed all of the tenants and their pets to safety, including an estimated 10 cats. 

Firefighters had the blaze under control in under two hours. Authorities said the cause is still being investigated; however, Passaic fire officials believe it to be electrical in nature, from inside a street-level store that was under renovation.

Mutual aid at the scene on the additional alarms came from Paterson, Clifton, West Paterson, Wallington, Carlstadt, Rutherford, East Rutherford, Garfield and the Hackensack Air Cascade unit. Two firefighters were taken to nearby St. Mary's General Hospital with injuries that weren't considered serious. The American Red Cross and city relocation officers helped the displaced tenants.