A fire broke out in a building at the corner of Broadway and Straight Street in Paterson, completely destroying the structure on a Sunday morning. Crews are currently working to clear the lot where the building once stood. Furkan Khan, the owner of Hollywood Fried Chicken, revealed that he had closed his shop on Saturday night when he was alerted by someone about the fire. Khan mentioned that he watched the building burn all night, realizing that it had started from the other side.
Fortunately, no serious injuries were reported, but 17 people are now homeless due to the fire, and several businesses have been lost. Initially, there was concern about a missing person, but they were eventually located safe. The cleanup operation began after the fire had been extinguished, with large and small excavators brought in to assist crews in completing the task, which is expected to take several days.
One of the loyal customers of Hollywood Fried Chicken, Luis Rosado, expressed his disappointment at the loss of the restaurant and mentioned that he would need to find another place to get his favorite dishes. There is hope within the community that the property will be rebuilt and put to good use once again. Khan also shared his optimism, stating that he hopes to reopen the business at the same location.
Efforts are being made to clear all the surrounding sidewalks by Monday, and the cleanup crews will stay on-site for the following days to ensure all debris is removed. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms has been called in to assist with the investigation into the cause of the fire.