5-alarm fire burns old Paterson Armory

5 Alarm Fire is still raging below ground at the Armory in #Paterson, NJ. We're LIVE w/ updates @nbcnewyork #NBC4NY pic.twitter.com/paYKeWgd83

— tracie strahan (@tstrahan4NY) November 10, 2015

A smoky 5-alarm fire broke out late Monday night at the abandoned Paterson Armory in downtown Paterson according to NBC New York, canceling classes at six nearby schools.

Nearly 200 firefighters responded to the blaze at the building on Market Street, which NBC New York said was burning most intensely in the basement 20 to 25 feet below ground.

The nearby Eastside High School, School 11, School 15, Roberto Clemente, New Roberto Clemente and Madison Early Learning have all been closed for classes on Tuesday according to the district Facebook page.

One firefighter injured his back during the fire according to NBC New York.

The fire has affected NJ Transit bus routes Nos. 151, 161 and 712, which run on Market Street.

According to NorthJersey.com the Paterson Armory was built in 1895 near the geographical center of the city and was home to the National Guard before it closed in the 1980s. In its day it hosted a Joe Louis fight, a political rally for Dwight Eisenhower and many concerts and sports events.

Pictures on the city of Paterson website show a crumbling building with several proposals for the 1.21 acre site including a track and a new building. It would cost $9 to $12 million to renovate the building, according to NorthJersey.com.