PATERSON, N.J. — A seven-alarm fire that started in a basement destroyed a vacant armory Tuesday.
NJ.com reported that the Paterson Armory, a city fixture since 1896, will be demolished.
More than 100 firefighters from across New Jersey responded. The interior was still burning Tuesday afternoon and fire officials said there would be no way to extinguish the fire without knocking down the building. One firefighter was taken to a hospital with a back injury.
In 2009, the city voted to borrow $15 million to renovate three buildings in the city. A total of $1.2 million of the funds would have gone to the Armory. City officials talked about converting the armory into a recreation center for children.
The fire closed nearby schools and forced about 35 people to temporarily evacuate until late afternoon.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.