1 Dead After Fire In Abandoned North Jersey Home Thursday Morning, Officials Say

PATERSON, NJ — A man died Thursday in a fire at an unoccupied Paterson residence, according to officials and reports.

Firefighters responded to a residence on Mercer Street, between Franklin and Keen streets, around 3:30 a.m.

After they extinguished the flames, first responders found the man on the second floor of the home, an NJ.com report said. Officials later said the home was abandoned, a report from News12 added.

Mayor Andre Sayegh and the Paterson Fire Department shared preliminary details on social media Thursday morning.

"Our firefighters worked feverishly to contain the fire and prevented any further loss of life," Sayegh said in a post on his personal Facebook page.

Paterson firefighters battled a second fire overnight Thursday. Firefighters were called to River Street near the intersection with 6th Avenue. Crews battled strong wind conditions, and officials said that aluminum siding from that home came in contact with nearby electrical lines, causing the siding to become energized.

A video of the fire can be viewed here. There was no word on injuries in the second incident, which took place above a corner store.