Passaic, Passaic County -- On a frigid night with temperatures hovering at 22 degrees, thirteen residents were displaced after a fire tore through a two-story wood frame home on Tuesday January 7, 2025, at 5pm.at 452 Lafayette Ave. it quicky went to a third alarm. As Police first arrived, they saw wo children looking out a top-floor window of the building, Firefighters arrived in the frigid temperatures, challenged by strong winds and downed power lines that hampered operations as they attacked the blaze, made rescues and begin the process of extinguishing the flames that had spread to all floors. They removed children and parent plus other residents inside the home. Firefighters were able to hold the blaze to just the one home. PSE&G was able to isolate and turn off electricity to live power lines that went down across from nearby St. Mary's General Hospital.

One firefighter suffered non-life-threatening injuries after the fire when strong wind blew materials off the home. He was treated and released at a hospital. NJ Red Cross said volunteers have provided 14 people across three families with emergency assistance to help with temporary housing, food, clothing and other immediate needs.