A fire at the corner of Broadway and Straight Street in Paterson has left only rubble behind after destroying a building on Sunday morning. The cleanup efforts have begun, with both large and small excavators being brought in to assist crews in their work, which is expected to take several days to complete.
Furkan Khan, the owner of Hollywood Fried Chicken, recalls that he had just closed his shop on Saturday night when he was informed about the fire. “I watched it burn all night. It started from the other side,” Khan explains. Thankfully, no one was seriously injured, although 17 people are now homeless and several businesses have been lost. Initially, there were reports of a missing person, but they were later found safe.
Residents in the area are optimistic that something will be rebuilt on the site so that it doesn’t remain empty. Khan shares his hope that a new business will eventually take the place of his restaurant. Cleanup crews aim to clear the sidewalks surrounding the property by Monday before focusing on removing the remaining debris over the next few days.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms has been brought in to assist with the investigation into the cause of the fire. The community is eager to see the area restored, and there is a sense of determination to rebuild and reopen businesses in the future.
