No injuries were immediately reported in the three-alarm blaze, which apparently began in the basement and ripped through the 2½-story structure in the 200 block of Wessington Avenue.
Firefighters were quickly pulled from the building once the internal staircase collapsed.
At one point, only one hydrant was clear and usable until the area around others could be shoveled.
Among those assisting Garfield firefighters were the Wallington and Saddle Brook FAST teams, as well as engines from Elmwood Park and Lodi.
- PUBLIC SAFETY: If you’re already outside with a shovel or snow blower, please clear fire hydrants near you. READ MORE ….
ALL PHOTOS: Damien Danis
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