50 displaced after Spring Valley apartment fire

SPRING VALLEY – About 50 people remained homeless Sunday after wind-swept flames burned out eight apartments and forced power to be shut off for 40 other units on Robert Pitt Drive.

Residents won't be returning to the 40 apartments left powerless for several days, as fire and building officials plan to inspect some of the units Monday for smoke damage and others for illegal rooms, Spring Valley Assistant Fire Inspector Frank Youngman said.

Youngman said the building's management is working with inspectors following Saturday's blaze that brought dozens of volunteer firefighters to the complex. The flames began around 3:30 p.m.

"We found illegal rooms and illegal walls in some of the apartments," Youngman said. "We plan on writing them up for the violations."

The fire remains under investigation, Youngman said.

Fire erupted in a first-floor bedroom and jumped out the window, then flames rose to the second floor into the eaves on the structure's east side, Youngman said.

"The wind was blowing hard and pushed the flames across the roof-line," Youngman said.

The eight apartments — four on the first level and four on the second floor — were severely damaged by fire, smoke and water. Orange and Rockland Utilities cut power to all 48 apartments, located in Spring Valley's Monsey section off Route 59.

Youngman said apartments with smoke damage are potentially liveable, but people can get ill breathing residual smoke. He said the issue is isolating the units damaged by fire to allow other tenants to return to their homes.

Around 100 volunteer firefighters responded and had the fire under control within an hour, Spring Valley Fire Chief Bob Johnson said.

The American Red Cross started working with at least 31 people seeking aid, but expected the number to change, said Abby Adams, the agency's communications director.

Twitter: @lohudlegal