PATERSON, NJ - Eight Paterson firefighters were hospitalized after Engines 1 and 5 collided at the intersection of Broadway and Straight Street while responding to a fire that would escalate to 3-alarms, September 10th.

The firefighters were transported to St. Joseph's University Medical Center. Three were listed in critical condition. They were in stable condition at the hospital with "non-life-threatening" injuries, Chief of Department Brian McDermott said in an interview several hours later.

The apparatus were en route to a fire involving the Targets Closeout store at 141 Main Street, about a half-mile away from the accident scene. Engine 1 struck the side of a Golden mango supermarket and Engine 5 was stopped by a tree.

The collision was under investigation. The Main Street fire was also under investigation. Preliminary finding suggested that it may have been started with lithium batteries in the store, officials said.