Passaic, NJ - An off-duty firefighter along with a Garfield firefighter alerted residents to a blaze that ravaged three homes in Passaic on the morning of September 26th.

Shortly after 8:00 A.M., companies were dispatched to 270 Oak St. on a reported structure fire. As Battalion Chief Kevin Burgos pulled out of quaters he had a column of smoke visible. A second-alarm was struck while en route. As he arrived he had fire involving a three-story OMD extending to a two-story dwelling with heavy fire conditions.

Hand lines were stretched to knock down the heavy fire in the alleyway between the homes. Interior crews reported fire on all floors of the original fire building. Command eventually pulled all members from the building. Heavy smoke and fire in the exposure also made members withdraw from the building and all operations went exterior.

A third-alarm was struck, bringing mutual aid to the scene. With fire now taking possession of both buildings master streams from Ladder 1's tower, Ladder 2's ladder pipe and East Rutherford's tower all went into operation, along with numerous outside lines. The fire was held in check on the third exposure building. A fourth-alarm was transmitted for companies to cover at East and West side firehouses.

Mutual aid from Carlstadt, Clifton, East Rutherford, Haledon, Little Falls, Paterson, Woodland Park, Rutherford, Totowa and Wallington assisted on scene while companies from Hawthorne, Montclair, Ringwood and others covered the city. More than 120 firefighters responded to the four-alarm blaze.

"There was a tremendous amount of fire through [two of] the buildings, with a partial collapse," Trentacost said. Everyone got out safely and no injuries were reported. Trentacost said the initial number was 35 residents, but may be more. The cause wasn't immediately determined.