PASSAIC, NJ - Just after 10:00 P.M. on December 16, 2023, the fire department was dispatched to 38 Eighth Ave. on a report of a working fire. Chief Hernandez arrived on the scene to find smoke coming out of the front door and confirmed they had a working fire. The fire was located in the basement as one of the tenants told him, and said another tenant was down there with a garden hose.

Firefighters made their way down to the basement and removed the tenant. They located the fire and began to extinguish it. The fire was placed under control in about 30 minutes. One of the tenants asked if firefighters found their dog on the second-floor. Firefighters went to see if they could find him, and as they were going up to the second-floor apartment, there he was, meeting Firefighter Montanez at the top of the stairs. FF Montanez scooped him up and brought him safely outside to his owner.

The house sustained heavy heat damage to the first-floor and heavy smoke damage to the second-floor. All the occupants removed themselves from the home safely. Chief Fire Investigator Rodriguez 95 was called to the scene to start the investigation.

A third-alarm was called to cover firehouses.