Paterson, NJ (July 10, 2026) – Two firefighters were hurt on Thursday night, July 9, battling a fire that tore through two buildings on Getty Avenue.
The fire reached second-alarm status as crews worked to control heavy flames across both structures. Two firefighters were taken to the hospital for treatment after being hurt while fighting the blaze.
The fire left 17 residents displaced from their homes. No word yet on what caused the flames to spread across both buildings.
The cause of the fire is still being determined.
We’re thinking of the firefighters as they recover and of the residents now displaced from their homes.
How Workers’ Compensation Applies to Injured Firefighters in Paterson, NJ
Firefighters hurt battling a blaze are generally covered under New Jersey’s workers’ compensation system, which provides benefits regardless of who caused the fire. Because this system is no-fault, an injured firefighter typically doesn’t need to prove negligence to receive coverage, though the tradeoff is that firefighters generally cannot sue their department directly for an on-duty injury.
Workers’ comp in New Jersey covers authorized medical treatment connected to the injury, which means care must generally go through approved providers to be covered, rather than any provider the firefighter chooses.
Lost wages are handled through temporary disability benefits, which typically replace around 70 percent of a firefighter’s average weekly wage, subject to state-set caps, rather than full income replacement. If an injury results in lasting impairment, permanent disability benefits may also apply, calculated using a separate formula based on the severity and nature of the impairment.
Because these benefit calculations depend on factors like average weekly wage, medical evaluations, and the classification of the injury, the amount a firefighter actually receives can vary significantly from case to case. This is where a personal injury lawyer becomes useful, helping an injured firefighter to understand which treatments qualify as authorized care, how disability percentages are calculated, and whether any additional claim might apply outside the standard workers’ comp process.
Our team at The Law Offices of Sander Budanitsky can help firefighters and other first responders understand how New Jersey’s workers’ compensation system applies to their specific injury.
We can walk you through what benefits cover and answer questions about the claims process. If you or someone you know was hurt while on duty, reaching out can help clarify what to expect. You can contact our personal injury lawyers at (908) 241-3445.
Note: This post has been prepared using publicly available secondary sources. The facts surrounding the incident have not been independently confirmed. If you believe any portion of this report contains inaccurate or outdated information, please contact The Law Offices of Sander Budanitsky, L.L.C. so we can promptly review and update the content to ensure accuracy and reliability.
Disclaimer: The information presented in this post is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal or medical advice. Reading this post does not create an attorney-client relationship, nor does it constitute a request for legal representation. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, please seek immediate medical care.
Any images included in this post are for illustrative purposes only and do not depict the actual accident scene.
