Historic Meyer Brothers Department Store Fire On Main Street In Paterson

PATERSON, NJ - In a tragic incident that forever scarred the town of Paterson, New Jersey, a violent explosion and fire erupted at the Meyer Brothers Department Store building located at 161 Main Street. The date was January 17, 1991. The repercussions of this catastrophic event would be felt for years to come.
The Catastrophe Unleashed
At approximately 5:54 a.m., the City of Paterson Fire Department responded to a structure fire at Underground II, a clothing store within the building that had once housed Meyer Brothers. The fire rapidly escalated, whipped by strong winds, and spread throughout the downtown area. The thick black smoke cast a pall over the old industrial city, home to approximately 149,000 people.
The Grim Toll
Tragically, the fire claimed the life of a brave Paterson firefighter. John A. Nicosia, a 28-year-old member of Engine 4, entered the clothing store with several others but failed to return when they were driven out by the intense heat and smoke. His body was recovered two days later from the basement of the initial structure. John Nicosia had served as a firefighter for about five years.
The Battle Against the Inferno
By midmorning, nearly 400 firefighters from Paterson and surrounding towns in Passaic, Essex, and Bergen Counties were at the scene. The fire destroyed at least 15 stores, including the entire block of buildings where Meyer Brothers once stood. The heat was so intense that it ignited the roofs of other commercial buildings along Washington Street to the east. Despite their valiant efforts, the exhausted firefighters struggled to contain the blaze.
Investigation and Community Impact
Officials did not immediately determine the cause of the fire. Collapsing walls and ceilings made the search for the missing firefighter perilous. The entire block was reduced to smoldering ruins, leaving a void in the heart of Paterson. The loss of Meyer Brothers, a major department store, was deeply felt by the community.
Historic Meyer Brothers Department Store Fire On Main Street In Paterson
Thursday, January 17, 1991
ALL COUNTY NEWS
Paterson Fire History:
www.patersonfi...
New York Times:
www.nytimes.com...

[@marilynwatkins7083]

I was working fire dispatch when this call came in. I also worked with John that night in the firehouse. I will never forget him or that fateful day. We were all glued to the TV watching the start of OPERATION DESERT STORM on CNN. I never imagined that being the last time I would talk to or see him again. REST EASY JOHN.

[@UAL012]

This looks like one HELL of a fire. It's pretty impressive to see the old school rigs at work.

[@richardhoedemaker4895]

I was on the job with Paterson Fire Department 2 years when this happened. R.I.P Firefighter John Nicosia Engine 4.

[@tommyd1542]

This was one hell of a serious fire and the video quality is excellent considering it's age. I like seeing the older classic apparatus from all the different municipalities who responded but it saddens me to learn that a true hero fire fighter lost his life fighting this blaze. May fire fighter John Nicosia rest in peace. I also extend my most sincere condolences to his family, friends, loved ones and brother fire fighters who I know will never forget the sacrifice he made on this tragic day so many years ago. .

[@connie7394]

That was my store back in the 80’s. Beautiful building.

[@kingahmahn7753]

Dam those pumper trucks were working hard 💪💪 good old Detroit motors classic footage

[@BigCheech-wy9os]

This Fire took the life of FireFighter Nicosia. RIP Hero. Whole city square block burned they fought that fire for 3 days.

[@garyhess7439]

Excellent video coverage.Looks like it was a beautiful old building.So sad about the fire fighter.

[@Jhihmoac]

This was 32 years ago... I remember going into Meyer Bros. with my Grandmother as a kid, back in the mid 60s... The store had already been closed for quite a few years when the fire took place...

[@kennydouglas8492]

John Nicosia was the true meaning of a firefighter, if you had a chance to meet him , just being around him felt so safe, a real warrior💪💪😢🙏🏽💯💯💯

[@CITYNEWSSUPPORT]

Great footage! I was a fire explore in 1991 this is exactly how I remember Fire Grounds and operations of the day. Time have changed :)

[@AllCountyNews]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@davidglaum2538]

I know this is an old film and can see that they didn’t have a lot of room to work but I would be nervous about all the equipment in the collapse zone.

[@denisevanderveen8925]

I had Main & Van Houten for traffic was working 3-11 what a shame ans eerie feeling knowing the firefighter was still in the building..

[@richardhoedemaker4895]

On the Washington Street side of the building the street was lined with ground operated deck guns operating into the upper floors due to higher street elevation. The roof did collapse causing the floors to pancake the exterior walls didn't collapse because the floors had fire cuts. I remember early on in the fire when the top floor collapsed. The Chief of the Department had issued a complete recall of the department.

[@franciskhoury4288]

My mom and my aunts used to take us to Meyer Brothers in the 70s. I kind of lost track of downtown Paterson over the years and I knew the building had burned down at some point, this is very sad to see. I certainly had no idea a fire fighter lost his life there. :(

[@BigCheech-wy9os]

Firefighter Nicosia lost his life RIP FF Nicosia His body was found in the Basement of Dr Jays Sneaker store.. I remember this fire I was in 10th Grade

[@willharlos3565]

you can hear those screming jimmys

[@DarrylKing-ur5km]

Them Detroits are hollering

[@aaronjones7790]

Excellent vintage footage.!

[@AllCountyNews]

Thanks

[@srfisher101]

I started as a volunteer when I was 35 in 1976. I stopped running in 1983. This makes me feel so old (77).

[@gabrielguillen6945]

A very sad day for the fire department RIP John

[@williamschlenger1518]

Great video. 👍🏻👍🏻

[@joseamilcarmedinahernandez2710]

Buen dia!!! En el minuto 21:17 aparece un bombero totalmente de rojo, podria alguien decirme que Rango Jerargico tiene???? Actualmente e visto muchos videos de incendios y nunca vi uno de ese color. Muchas Gracias!!!

[@AllCountyNews]

Jose Comment Translated > Good day!!! In the minute 21:17 a firefighter appears completely in red, could someone tell me that hierarchical rank has ???? Currently, I have seen many fire videos and never saw one of that color. Thank you so much!!!

[@moemcgovern7345]

Very sad....:(

[@sbdr.1241]

I remember listening to this on a scanner while @ work live as it happend..

[@michaelboccino5251]

No Sprinkler system

[@raypinkerton6961]

What started the fire

[@nphil93992]

RIP to the fallen firefighter They must have been pulling water from every hydrant in town. I'm surprised that last engine in had something to hook up to

[@AllCountyNews]

if i remember correctly they had every plug in downtown area tap

[@BigCheech-wy9os]

FIREFIGHTER NICOSIA LOSS HIS LIFE FIGHTING THIS BLAZE

[@williamschlenger1518]

Excellent water pressure.

[@rabignall]

I don't understand why trucks kept moving around? Lots of water.....

[@chad6803]

How many alarms was this call?, it looks like was a 30 alarm or more

[@FLAKMFDM]

was working police dispatch during this one

[@BigCheech-wy9os]

THUND3R5T0RM5INFL0RIDA Who is this?

[@bradh3139]

Love seeing those old ALFs

[@paulthomsen3788]

Excellent video, love to hear those Detroit engines, fck me..good stuff.

[@jcoopfishing819]

Isn't this where the roof collapsed and trapped to other firemen and killed one

[@tnzayatz6579]

No. Collapse was not an issue with FF Nicosia’s death.

[@pauldumanov9567]

Does anyone know if Meyer Brothers was Rebuilt or they Built other Store's there ?

[@AllCountyNews]

They built a new commercial building Google Street view www.google.com/maps/place/161+Main+St,+Paterson,+NJ+07505/@40.9180449,-74.1730418,3a,90y,119.28h,90.37t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sZHHoQ5tm6ZdvwoKcv40akg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!4m5!3m4!1s0x89c2fdcae5b42c85:0x757a089fe7708a74!8m2!3d40.9179563!4d-74.1727132

[@PJBovio]

What caused this fire??

[@thomasskinner9141]

No collapse zone!

[@harrybailey6299]

It is a surprise that these Commercial buildings have no Sprinkler Systems installed inside,considering their size an location. Disaster waiting to happen an it did.

[@1961fireguy]

Not a surprise at all. There are many commercial building even today that have no sprinkler systems. If the building was built before they were required they wont have one unless they were renovated. Everything in this country has to do with money and sprinklers cost money. It has been proven sprinklers save lives, yet we still do not require sprinklers in new residential construction. Now that is something to be surprised about.

[@BigCheech-wy9os]

This is Years ago!! Store was abandoned

[@jcoopfishing819]

The fire companies that were there was Little Falls Totowa West Patterson Patterson Paramus And wanaque

[@TonyAlessi6611]

Clifton FD was on the scene in the early stage. Clifton Eng. 2 is the first mutualaid company to ride in such a call. Was then and is still now!

[@matttwomey8554]

Alot more than that lol. Ridgefield, Clifton, Wayne, Bloomingdale, Lodi, Plauderville, Garfield, Elmwood Park, Passaic, Rutherford, Teaneck, East Rutherford and many many more!

[@christophertremps480]

Diid the building have fire sprinklers.

[@williamschlenger1518]

I would have pulled the trucks &men out of collapse zone.The building is gone.

[@tnzayatz6579]

There is no collapse zone. Street was narrower than height of buildings. This is/was an urban environment, not a classroom environment.

[@wb9614]

Paterson Where??????

[@williamschlenger1518]

W B N.J.

[@BigCheech-wy9os]

Was down town on Washington st

[@shermricks7340]

This particular location is the front of Meyer Brothers on Main St in Paterson, between Van Houten & Ellison St.

[@rickwalsh6506]

stupid question ,any firemen out there have any idea how many gal.of water would be used in a fire like this i'm just curious,ball park

[@Firebartlett]

rick walsh hi on a fire like this you would use millions and millions. You would be useing hydrants from all over the city. To get water on it on average each one of those monitors on the ladders are 4000 Litres of water per minute sorry don’t know in imperial hope that Awnser your question

[@srfisher101]

A gallon is roughly equal to a liter. Of course, flowing millions makes the difference bigger.

[@Eddiecurrent2000]

@@srfisher101 US gallon is 3.8 litres and a UK gallon 4.54 litres, so you're looking at over 1000gallon a minute.

[@paulburns1333]

@@Firebartlett A litre's roughly 1 3/4 pints, a gallon is 8 pints in the UK.

[@macek7016]

@@srfisher101 One US gallon is approx 3,8 liters.

[@Gitika1956]

🚒👍 📸👍

[@pawloalbanskyj2487]

Ahhh. Great to see actual fire fighters on the scene in the 90s instead of fire people that just stand around and do nothing while the building burns down.

[@tyronesandoval2348]

The building on fire has two ladders attacking the fire, Other buildings with no fire, have 6 or more trucks attacking the fire

[@CH-bo5jw]

Tayron Sandoval In a situation like this, the main goal is to keep it from spreading. That’s why they are putting more water around the fire rather than on the fire. Contain it and slowly put it out. Fire can spread faster than water can put it out. If it was a house or building with nothing around, than they would be attacking the actual fire. If this fire had spread, the whole town would have been on fire.

[@1701spacecadet]

At that point the building is GONE. No point sacrificing 2 or more buildings just to try save one that's already beyond saving.

[@BigCheech-wy9os]

If you know anything about firefighting Putting more water from a Ladder Tower just sends the fire deeper into the building you want the fire to Escape outwards blowing it from behind

[@tyronesandoval2348]

They're not even attacking the building on fire

[@davidsonlankford1168]

These guys are great. Got to one of the best Fire Companies in US. Wish they could train those clowns from Newark Ohio how to fight fires.

[@jkzl4477]

Seriously?

[@rickautry2759]

Let me guess. The building of origin was grandfathered in and didn't require sprinklers. 1sprinkler head worth of water could have knocked it down in seconds. Proper building codes, and inspections to confirm compliance should be mandatory for holding a permit to do business.

[@tyronesandoval2348]

They're attacking the fire in one building only

[@BigCheech-wy9os]

It was a entire square block