Bookstore owner burned in Upper Grandview blaze

Editor's note: This story was originally published Friday, Feb. 20.

UPPER GRANDVIEW – An 82-year-old man was injured Friday while running into his burning home to retrieve his belongings, officials said.

Fred Rosselot, whose home off Route 9W doubles as a bookstore, was taken by ambulance to Nyack Hospital, where he was treated for burns to his face and hands, officials said. He was later released.

The fire at 1050 Route 9W was reported shortly after 1 p.m. Smoke billowed from the house and was visible from the Tappan Zee Bridge.

The home was evacuated after the roof partially collapsed and firefighters fought the blaze from the outside, Rockland Deputy Fire Coordinator John Kryger said.

The home was heavily damaged.

Red Cross spokeswoman Carolyn Sherwin said volunteers provided Rosselot with emergency relocation and financial and emotional support.

The residence also houses Fred Rosselot Books, which is described as a used book shop open by appointment. It has 30,000 books, according to records.

Firefighters said the books fueled the blaze, allowing it to spread.

Jack Dunnigan, owner of Pickwick Books in Nyack, said he has known Rosselot, a retired geologist who collects and sells old books dealing with science and Western thought, for more than 40 years.

"He's a very smart guy," Dunnigan said. "He's well-known in the book world."

Firefighters initially had difficulty getting enough water from hydrants in the area. They enlisted a pumper from Valley Cottage to get water from a Nyack Water Department hydrant near the New York State Thruway overpass at South Broadway.

That setup, however, was ultimately not used after water pressure in the area increased, officials said.

Numerous fire departments were called to the scene, including Nyack, Piermont, Central Nyack, Orangeburg, Sparkill, West Nyack and Valley Cottage. The Nyack and South Orangetown Ambulance Corps, Rockland Paramedic Services, and the Piermont and South Nyack-Grand View police departments also assisted at the scene.

Route 9W was closed in both directions between Old Mountain Road and Broadway in Piermont before reopening around 6 p.m.

The cause of the blaze remained under investigation Friday night.

Rosselot's neighbors set up a FundRazr site to provide aid for Rosselot Friday. By early Saturday, the effort had raised over $1,000.

Staff writer Matthew Spillane contributed to this report.

Twitter: @JaneLernerNY