Alex Taylor

artaylor@lohud.com

SPRING VALLEY – Firefighters aided one of their own Sunday, responding to a blaze only to find it was at the home of longtime Spring Valley firefighter Richard D. Bird Jr.

The fire was reported at 21 Ternure Ave. shortly before 2 p.m. A two-story, garage-type structure that sits behind another house on the property was in flames, Spring Valley Fire Chief Bob Johnson said. Thirty-five firefighters from Spring Valley, South Spring Valley and Monsey took about 20 minutes to extinguish the fire.

Johnson said the fire appears to have started when Bird stepped away from an outdoor barbecue that sparked a small brush fire that spread to the house. Bird, 58, and his wife, Hattie, escaped with their dog. No one was injured. The couple are receiving emergency assistance from the Red Cross.

For members of the department, the fire hit close to home, Johnson said. Bird has been a member for about 35 years.

"I actually didn't know it was his house," he said. "But I knew that he lived on the street. It was a bad feeling anyway."

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