PASSAIC, NJ - With thunder, lightning and down pouring rains, firefighters battled a fatal 3rd alarm fire just before New Year's, December 31, 2024. Shortly before 10:00 P.M., police received phone calls for a fire at 361 Madison Ave. with people reportedly trapped inside.

Police arrived to find people running out of the four-story apartment building and jumping from the first-floor apartment window where the fire was. Members from a motorcycle club called straight up riders, who have their club next door, who also helped people get out of windows as smoke began filling the floors. 

Fire units arrived and began removing residents from all floors. They stretched hose lines to the first-floor, located the fire in the first-floor apartment and began knocking the flames down in the kitchen. Firefighters and police helped remove seven residents from the fire apartment from their windows. Three were taken to the hospital; a husband and wife were removed in cardiac arrest and taken to the Saint Mary's hospital where the woman was pronounced deceased. The husband was later taken to St. Barnabas hospital and remained in CCU. 

A man broke his foot while trying to help another resident get out of the building. The residents were taken to a nearby school for shelter. 

Mutual aid was provided from Clifton, Paterson, Carlstadt, Rutherford, East Rutherford, West Paterson, Totowa, Wallington and Little Falls. 

The Passaic County Prosecutor's office, Passaic arson and investigation team and fire prevention were all called to the scene. The North Jersey Fire Canteen Support Unit were there to supply coffee to all at the fire.

(Author's note: thank you to Victor and your crew.)