James O'Rourke

jorourke@lohud.com

CONGERS – The Knights of Columbus Council House on Route 9W was destroyed Thursday night when a fire possibly started by cigarettes discarded in mulch tore through the two-story building, drawing scores of firefighters to the scene.

Several people were said to be inside when the blaze began about 6:40 p.m. All escaped without incident after the flames triggered the building's alarm system, Congers Fire Chief Jason DiSalvo said.

"When we pulled up on scene, there was a heavy smoke condition," DiSalvo said. "We immediately called our mutual aid departments and we did a good stop to the building."

Volunteers from the New City, Valley Cottage, Haverstraw, Thiells, West Nyack and Nyack fire departments joined Congers in battling the blaze. It took 85 firefighters about 30 minutes to extinguish the fire, DiSalvo said. No injuries were reported.

The fire rekindled after 2 a.m. Friday but was quickly put out again, Clarkstown police said. Police said Friday that the preliminary investigation revealed that the fire may have been caused by cigarettes being thrown into mulch located around the building.

Damage to the building at 114 Route 9W was extensive. Several windows and the main entrance were heavily charred and a large, blackened hole was left in a wall. Damage inside appeared just as severe. DiSalvo said the building would likely be condemned.

What caused the fire was not yet clear, but the bulk of the flames appeared to be focused on the second floor, DiSalvo said. The Clarkstown fire inspector and investigators with the Clarkstown Police Department were examining evidence at the building Thursday night.

In addition to police, who closed portions of Route 9W during the emergency response, medical personnel from the Congers-Valley Cottage Volunteer Ambulance Corps and Rockland Paramedic Services also was on the scene.

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