2016 - PATERSON FIRE HISTORY

Incident Number: begins with last two numbers of the year (i.e., 16 for 2016) followed by sequential numbers. For instance the third incident of the year 2016 would be # 160003

2016 Incidents

January 26: #160535 Tour 3 firefighters rescue two teens who fell through ice into Passaic River. Heroic actions by Battalion Chief Brian Rathbone and Deputy Chief Brian McDermott and the other men.

E7 at Mcbride Avenue House in background

February 13: #160845 477 (extension to 479) Main Street (between Green and Slater)
                  3rd Alarm (but Mutual Aid was present, technically making it a 4th alarm)
                                                                                   Tour 4 Dwelling Additional Photos

Chris Tompkins Photo

Ron Bombaro Photo

Bill Tompkin's Photo

February 14: #160888 411 East 39th Street 2nd Alarm Tour 2 Dwelling Additional Photos

Bill Tompkins Photo

February 19: 411 East 37th Street 2nd Alarm Tour 3 Dwelling

Ron Bombaro Photo

February 20: #161087 20 Bridge Street 2nd Alarm Tour 3 Mixed use Occupancy
Additional Photos

Bill Tompkins Photo

Courtesy Bill Tompkins

February 24: #161170 584 River Street 2nd Alarm Tour 4 Mixed use occupancy

March 30 : #161701 202 Pacific Street 2nd Alarm Tour 3 Dwelling

Peter Danzo photo

April 19, 2016:  #162067 222-224 16th Avenue (extension to B 4th Alarm Tour 2
     Fully involved on arrival exposure and exterior siding damage to 223 & 225 16th Avenue)
     Dwelling (duplex)    Additional Photos

Bill Tompkins Photo

May 11, 2016: #162452 24 Pearl Street (extension to B & D exposures) General Alarm
Tour 1 Additional Photos

Chris Tompkins Photo

May 30, 2016: Paterson NJ Fire Dept Operates at a motor vehicle accident with entrapment Madison Street and 20th Avenue. Engine 6 and Ladder 1.

Ron Bombaro photo

June 1: #162771 50-52 North 6th Street near Temple Street 2nd Alarm Tour 1 Vacant
Multiple exposures and radiant heat damage Additional Photos

Ladder 2 in action -- Bill Tompkin's photo

Bill Tompkins Photo

June 21: #163125 625 Market Street 3rd Alarm Tour 2 Vacant

3rd Alarm

Ron Bombaro Photo

Elizabeth Melhourne -- Ron Bombaro Photo

Ron Bombaro Photo

BC Michael D'Arco -- Ron Bombaro Photo

Ron Bombaro Photo

Ed Gray photo

June 24, 2016: #163185 619 East 26th Street (exterior damage to B exposure)
3rd Alarm Tour 1 Vacant Additional Photos

Chris Tompkins Photo

August 6, 2016: #164025 143 Mill Street (extension to #144) 2nd Alarm Tour 3 dwelling
Additional Photos

Bill Tompkins Photo

August 28: #164421 133 Harrison Street 4th Alarm Tour 2 Dwelling (apartments)
Additional Photos

Bill Tompkins Photo

Courtesy Bill Tompkins

August 31, 2016: #164460 109 Fair Street 2nd Alarm Tour 1 Dwelling Additional Photos

Chris Tompkins Photo

September 5: #164538 506 Broadway 2nd Alarm Tour 4 Mixed use occupancy

Bill Tompkins Photo

September 25: #164874 343 Hamilton Ave (extension to B and D exposures with B1 having
exterior siding damage) 4th Alarm Tour 2 Additional Photos

Bill Tompkins Photo

BC Cameron Gardner

Ron Bombaro Photo

BC Robert Gardner (left), Michael D'Arco (center) & Tour Commander DC Ryan Murray (right)

Ron Bombaro Photo

The probie at left is FF Heriberto Lopez - Ron Bombaro Photo

Engine 1 -- Ron Bombaro Photo

Mobile Cascade Unit (57) Support Services -- Ron Bombaro Photo

October 4. 2016: 9:01 AM #165012 16 Goshen Street House Explosion -
Damage to multiple exposures Tour 3

At 0902 Paterson E-6, L-1 and BC-1 responded to 16 Goshen St. for a possible gas leak. On arrival companies found a confirmed leak in the basement of the 2-1/2 story frame, described as a loud hissing sound. Co's started evacuating the adjacent dwellings and at 0920, BC-1 (Brian Rathbone) requested R-2 special called. At 0921 Deputy 3 advised dispatch that he was responding and also asked that the box be filled out, E-3, 1, 7 and L-2 were assigned. At 0928 as rescue 2 was in the process of removing an elderly woman from the C exposure (on Grove St) a powerful explosion ripped through the home destroying it as well as the B exposure, #18, another 2-1/2 story frame with heavy fire in the debris. DC-3 arrived shortly after the explosion and at 0933 requested a 2nd alarm bringing E-4 & 5 and the field com (51).

A par was conducted and all members were accounted for: companys set up numerous exterior hand lines to knock down the fire and protect the exposures. All visible fire was knocked down in about 20 minutes but companies continued to wet down the rubble due to deep seated fire which continued to smolder. Miraculously all occupants had been safely evacuated prior to the explosion and no civilians were injured. 15 firefighters and 3 police officers were transported to the hospital with non life threatening injuries, mainly due to ringing in the ears from the explosion. The D exposure building was severely damaged and was torn down, the B-1 exposure was also heavily damaged but it fat undetermined. As many as 56 other buildings in the area suffered damage and were being evaluated by engineers. A total of 38 people were displaced. Many lives were probably saved by the swift actions of the Paterson Fire Dept. at great risk to their own safety.

Peter Danzo photo

Source: http://www.padphotography.net/2016-Fires/Paterson-NJ-2nd-alarm/

North Jersey News

Chief Postorino at press briefing (North Jersey News)

From news sources: A gas leak was believed to be to blame for an explosion that destroyed two homes Tuesday morning in Paterson. As CBS2’s Ali Bauman reported late Tuesday, it was truly incredible to learn that no one was killed in the explosion that leveled the residences. And officials said many people came close to a very different outcome. At least 38 people were left homeless by the blast, which destroyed two buildings containing four residences. Surveillance video captured the moment it shook people to the core. The chain of events began when Paterson firefighters, under actions of first on scene BC Brian Rathbone, did a “rapid evacuation” of residents after being called to a house at 16 Goshen St. on a report of a gas smell around 9 a.m. Tuesday, Paterson Fire Chief Michael Postorino said.

North Jersey News

Chief Postorino, Mayor Torres

Peter Danzo photo

BC Rathbone & FF (Peter Danzo photo)

Fifteen firefighters were taken to the hospital in the aftermath of the explosion, Paterson Fire Chief Michael Postorino said. Four of the firefighters were treated for ruptured eardrums, and the rest for swelling in the ears. Three police officers were also treated for ear problems. No residents were injured in the explosion. Residents described a chaotic scene as police and firefighters raced to get people to safety minutes before the blast, after receiving a 911 call at 9:01 a.m. from a resident reporting an odor of gas.