Even though it happened more than 100 years ago The Great Paterson Fire of 1902 is still the worst fire to have ever hit NJ. Bad weather, unsafe housing and a city wholly unprepared for a fire that would eventually burn 459 buildings.
60 MPH winds relentlessly pushed the fire forward as it spread from building to building. This was 1902 so there were no fire sprinklers in NJ to slow things down. Of course having basic fire fighting tools like sprinklers and fire hydrants might have made a big difference. Surprisingly the damage was mostly contained to property. Despite the massive devastation, only two lives were lost.
The cause of the fire is still debated. Most historians agree that it was likely a small cooking stove that was either not properly sealed or not properly extinguished. Most fires are started from small things like that. Someone forgets to turn off a heat source, or some wiring goes bad. It doesn't take much to get a fire started. Once a fire is started there is usually plenty of fuel around a house or business. Fabric, upholstery, carpet, wall board and just about anything else will burn once it gets hot enough.
Another thing the people of NJ had going against them was that the fire started in the middle of the night. Imagine waking up to a building in flames, the confusion must have been immense. The panic would be palpable. In modern homes there are fire sprinklers or at least fire alarms to warn and wake up inhabitants. In these homes and buildings there were no alarms, there were no sprinklers and there was no fire plan. The first sign of trouble would be the smell of smoke, or if you were very unlucky, actual flames. Words cannot describe the panic of a husband, father, or mother as they awoke in their homes to the sure signs of fire.
Luckily since 1902 things have changed quite a bit. People are required to keep smoke detectors and there are fire sprinklers in NJ. Competent fire departments do all they can to train people in their communities and encourage the use of fire resistant materials in the construction of buildings and even in the furnishing. These changes have built a state that is better prepared for fire and has been spared the terrible mega-fires of the past. Be sure to make sure your home is safe and take the necessary precautions.
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