A three-alarm 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 a.m. July 5. At 1:32am companies were dispatched to 733 Main Ave on an alarm activation. Battalion Chief James Kovacs arrived with heavy snoke showing on his arrival he struck a second alarm. The fire which began on the ground floor store quickly extended to the upper floors. A third alarm were struck as heavy fire and smoke backed crews out of the building. They were eventually forced to go defensive, Passaic truck 1 and East Rutherford truck 1 went 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's firefighters removed all of the tenants and their pets to safety including an estimated 10 cats. 

The firefighters had the blaze under control in under two hours. Authorities said the cause is still being investigated; however, Passaic fire officials believe the cause as electrical in 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