A multi-alarm fire that tore through a vacant house then extended to a neighboring home in Paterson is under investigation.
It took three-alarms and dozens of firefighters to tackle a fire that began to destroy two buildings on Auburn Avenue at Godwin Avenue early this morning.
According to fire officials, crews received several calls for a fire at 36 Auburn Avenue at approximately 2:00 a.m. where firefighters arrived at the scene and quickly escalated a third-alarm to keep heavy flames from spreading other homes.
Fire officials said one structure was known by residents to be vacant; the other was occupied by a 90-year-old woman who spent decades living in the house.
It took over an hour to control the fire with no trapped or injured victims reported.
Firefighters from surrounding towns covered the empty Paterson firehouses as they battled the fire.
The cause remains under investigation.