Two-alarm Cliff Street blaze set off by resident's car hitting building gas meter

Marsha A. Stoltz, NorthJersey.com
Updated ·1 min read
Paterson firefighters battle a gas-fed fire that took place after a car struck a building on Cliff Street in Paterson, NJ around 1:15 a.m. on March 30, 2024.

PATERSON — Ten Cliff Street residents were displaced after a car struck the gas meter of their duplex building, igniting a fire from leaking vehicle fuel early Saturday.

According to Fire Chief Andrew Ricciardi, the two-alarm blaze began at 122-114 Cliff St. at 1:05 a.m. Saturday when a vehicle driven by one of the building's occupants struck its gas meter. Sparks from the meter ignited gas leaking from under the car, setting the vehicle and building on fire.

The building's occupants were safely evacuated, Ricciardi said. One adult was transported to St. Joseph's hospital with minor burns and smoke inhalation.

PSE&G was summoned to shut off the gas. No charges were filed against the unidentified driver.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Fire in Paterson on Cliff Street after car strikes gas meter