On July 16, at 2048 HRS, the Paterson (N.J.) Fire Department was dispatched to a reported structure fire on Montgomery Street in Paterson. First-arriving units saw heavy fire on the first and second floors of the 2 ½-story house. The flames, which were extending to the roof, had already jumped the alleyways on each side of the building and were involving both the No. 2 and No. 4 exposures. A second alarm was requested at 2051 HRS, followed by a third alarm at 2104 HRS. At the height of the incident, about 40 firefighters (on 10 rigs) used an aggressive attack to keep flames from traveling down the block.

It took one hour for firefighters to control the blaze, which is believed to have been caused by unattended candles. The fire displaced 13 people. There were no reported injuries.