Fire at rehabilitation center displaces hundreds

PATERSON, N.J. >> A fire at a New Jersey rehabilitation center over the weekend displaced several hundred residents, but no injuries were immediately reported, authorities said.

The blaze at Straight & Narrow in Paterson, which serves people battling drug and alcohol addiction, was reported just before 11 a.m. Saturday.

Mayor Andre Sayegh said in a Facebook Live video that he was “having flashbacks of Marcal,” referring to the January fire that destroyed the historic paper plant in Elmwood Park.

Paterson fire officials say part of the building collapsed within 40 minutes of the start of the blaze, and an explosion was also heard, possibly a barrel containing “some substance.”

“The explosion was really intense,” Fire Chief Brian McDermott said. “The barrel went up 300 feet easily, blew the roof off.”

Residents and neighbors evacuated the area and no injuries were reported. Officials said more than 300 people were seeking shelter, with the Red Cross and Office of Emergency Management setting up shelters.

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Paterson owned the building, and diocese officials called its destruction a huge loss for the diocese and the community at large. Monsignor James Maloney called it one of New Jersey’s largest drug and alcohol counseling centers serving thousands of people each year.

Public Safety Director Jerry Speziale said it appeared that everyone got out safely, but given the number of people in the building officials will have to scour the remains to be sure.

“We will have to go through every piece of rubble to make sure no one was caught in the fire,” Speziale said.