Night of Tragedy in Paterson: 5 Dead—including 3 Children—as House Fire Rips Through Home

Here at the The Garden State Gazette — where “we don’t put sugar in our coffee” and we tell it straight — the heart of New Jersey was hit hard last night. A devastating fire raced through a home in Paterson, New Jersey, claiming five lives: two adults and three children.

The blaze erupted around 9:54 p.m. in the lower floor of a multi-unit building, and heavy winds caused the flames to shoot upward and engulf the second floor in moments. Eleven other residents survived the fire—but now they’re displaced, their home destroyed, their lives turned upside-down.

Officials have not yet released the names of the victims or a definitive cause of the fire, but a warning has been made loud and clear: in a heartbeat your home can become a catastrophe zone.

What you should take away:

• Fire safety isn’t optional. Especially in older buildings and in windy conditions, it only takes one spark to turn deadly.
• Know your building’s evacuation plan. Eleven people made it out alive—thanks, in part, to being somewhere other than the floor the fire transformed into a furnace.
• If you’re renting or living in a multi-unit building: check your smoke detectors, ensure there are working exits, and understand who to call in an emergency.
• Support your neighbors. The people displaced by this tragedy need more than sympathy—they’ll need shelter, help, community.

In Paterson last night, this wasn’t just a fire — it was a heartbreak in motion. We’ll keep following this story as investigators dig into the origin of the blaze. If we find out more about cause, building code issues, or any negligence, we’ll bring it to you.

Stay safe out there — and remember: even when you think you’re secure, life can shift in a flash.