PASSAIC, NJ - A Passaic apartment building was heavily damaged on the afternoon of August 3rd at 1:01 P.M.

Companies were dispatched to 10 School St. A heavy column of smoke was visible per Battalion Chief Michael Boudaher as he left quarters, and while enroute, he struck the second-alarm. Ladder 2 arrived on scene and confirmed a working fire in a three-story brick OMD with fire showing on the third-floor, venting out several windows. A third-alarm was transmitted, which brought mutual aid companies to the scene. 

An exterior attack was commenced as master streams from Passaic Ladder 2 and Clifton Ladder 3 operated in front of the building, along with East Rutherford Truck 1 and Passaic Ladder 1 operating in the rear. The entire top floor was involved, and heavy fire vented through the roof, eventually causing the roof to collapse. The front parapet wall fell, and the building quickly suffered various collapses of the floors and walls.

Mutual aid units on scene came from Garfield, Paterson, Wallington, Clifton and East Rutherford, along with both the Passaic and North Jersey rehab units. The Red Cross is working with city officials to relocate residents of the building. The fire was declared under control at 5:05 P.M. by Chief of Dept. Trentacost. Two firefighters and one resident were taken to the hospital due to heat related issues. The cause of the fire is not immediately known.