Three families were displaced by a fire that ravaged a multi-family house in Passaic on the afternoon of November 9th.

The fire at 56 Richard Street, the blaze started just after 1pm .  The fire apparently originated in the basement and quickly extended to the upper floors. A second alarm was transmitted then followed by a third alarm; Firefighters backed out of the attic so the roof can be vented. Eventually, they evacuated house and went defensive. Master streams from Passaic Ladder 1 and East Rutherford Truck 1 went into operation to knock down the heavy fire in the attic.

The fire was declared under control in about an hour and a half by Battalion Chief Damien Pilipski . Three firefighters sustained minor injuries and two pets were lost, Passaic Mayor Hector Carlos Lora said. Mutual aid from Paterson, Clifton, East Rutherford, Rutherford and Wallington assisted on scene.