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Paterson Fire Captain Rouses Sleeping Residents In Early-Morning Blaze

UPDATE: A Paterson fire captain got two sleeping residents to safety early Sunday before flames blew through the roof of a string of attached homes anchored by a Greek restaurant, authorities said.

Berkshire Avenue, Paterson

Berkshire Avenue, Paterson

Photo Credit: Bill Tompkins (BT Fire Photos)

The fire broke between a parked van and the 2½-story, wood-frame Berkshire Street building off Union Avenue shortly before 7 a.m., Public Safety Director Jerry Speziale said.

The flames "traveled through the unprotected truss flooring system" of three attached addresses and blew through the roof before they were knocked down a little under an hour later, Speziale said.

Lightweight materials used in building the mixed-use structure worsened the three-alarm fire, which severely damaged a tattoo parlor, the restaurant and the apartments above them, the director said.

Engine 2 Capt. Kyle Hoffman forced his way into a second-floor apartment and rescued the sleeping the pair, he said.

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PHOTOS: BT Fire Photos

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No injuries were reported.

Six residents were displaced, Speziale said.

A city fire marshal was investigating the cause.

"Crews once again deliver by evacuating residents from the swift-moving fire," Fire Chief Brian McDermott said. "Rapid extinguishment of this fire surely saved impending collapse of the lightweight building materials we encountered."

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