Three squatters emerged safely from the McBride Avenue building shortly after the three-alarm blaze broke out around 10 a.m.
EMS brought one to St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center for treatment of smoke inhalation.
Arson investigators were eyeing the squatters as they probed the blaze to determine its origin, authorities said.
Firefighters were forced into an exterior operation and had the blaze under control in just over an hour. None were injured.
The same building was the scene of a fire in December 2017.
PHOTOS: www.btfirephotos.com/
******
WATCH: A gunman who refused to drop his weapon in a confrontation with Paterson police died of his injuries after they shot him Thursday afternoon.
******
Click here to follow Daily Voice Paterson and receive free news updates.