PATERSON, NJ - A spectacular 3-alarm fire tore through a vacant frame dwelling on August 31st, leaving just a pile of burnt rubble, but thanks to firefighters the exposure buildings were spared serious damage.

Fire units were alerted shortly before 11:00 P.M. for a fire in a long abandoned home at 143 E. 32nd St. The three-story frame dwelling had heavy fire from the second floor and through the roof as units arrived. A second-alarm was immediately called, followed shortly after by a third as the structure became fully involved, threatening the exposure buildings and beyond.

Members quickly put several lines in to operation and set up master streams to hold the flames. Within 10 minutes the entire fire building totally collapsed, sending out tremendous heat and putting a heavy ember condition skyward. A reported 13 buildings sustained some level of damage, but none were destroyed.

After the collapse the intensity of the fire diminished and crews were able to move in to hit the pockets of fire still burning. The fire was placed under control after all structures had been fully checked. No injuries were reported. Five residents of one of the exposure buildings were temporarily displaced.