NY - Massive nursing home fire, 1 firefighter dead, Spring Valley, 23 Mar 2021

[imstilla.grandma]

Massive flames broke out Tuesday at a Rockland County assisted living facility, killing one of its residents, and authorities say one firefighter is missing.

The missing firefighter made a "mayday" call, but other first responders were not able to get to him due to the intensity of the blaze, Rockland County fire and emergency director Chris Kear told reporters at a news conference Tuesday.

"We've got to start pulling it back, and peeling it layer by layer, and hopefully he'll be recovered," Kear said, adding that a mini-excavator was on scene assisting with debris removal. The missing firefighter was on the third floor, in a section of the building that has now collapsed.

Authorities say the fire at Evergreen Court Home for Adults on Lafayette Street in Spring Valley started around 1:40 a.m., and they were still trying to put out the flames hours later. One person who was transported to the hospital has died, according to the fire department.

Between 20 and 30 residents in the 200-bed facility were rescued, though authorities still don't know for sure how many people were actually in the building when the fire broke out.

Volunteers with the Chaverim of Rockland were also able to get a number of residents into a bus to be evacuated to another facility, according to witness Benny Polatseck. Kear confirmed that more than 100 firefighters from 26 different companies responded.
1 Resident Dead, 1 Firefighter Missing After Massive Nursing Home Blaze

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[imstilla.grandma]

"We have numerous teams looking through the rubble," Rockland County Director of Fire and Emergency Services Chris Kear said.

A portion of the building collapsed as firefighters battled the blaze, ad the missing firefighter is believed to have been on the third floor, Kear said.

He rushed into the burning building to rescue residents, and officials believe he became disoriented and could not find his way out.

"The extent of the fire, the volume of fire, the conditions, were just too unbearable where firefighters went in it, and they just could not locate the firefighter, and they had to back out," Kear said.

He was one of the first on the scene and transmitted a mayday, but other firefighters were unable to rescue him.

First responders are searching for him, using a mini excavator to clear the rubble.

Denise Kerr, director of the Evergreen Court Home for Adults, released the following statement Tuesday.

"This is an unspeakable tragedy at Evergreen Court Home and our hearts and prayers go out to all individuals and families who have been impacted. We join the community in mourning the loss of our resident who passed away and pray for the safety of the missing firefighter. We are fully cooperating with all state and local authorities in the investigation of this fire and are conducting our own internal investigation as well. Our staff was truly heroic in evacuating residents who were inside the building as the fire spread, and we are forever grateful to the first responders whose actions undoubtedly saved lives. All 112 residents at Evergreen Court Home are accounted for and have been placed in a new home. We are currently in the process of contacting their families. Anyone who wishes to reach us to inquire about a family member can call 973-378-1997 or email [email protected]."
1 dead, firefighter missing after massive fire at New York assisted living facility

 

[SugarQueen]

My heart breaks for every firefighter there. To know they were unable to locate another firefighter, after he/ she put out a mayday call has to be horrible for them.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Investigators: Alarm System At Evergreen Court Home For Adults In Rockland County Was On Test Mode When Deadly Fire Broke Out

the alarm system was not connected to dispatch at the time of the fire, but the alarm system alerted residents to danger inside the building.

The fire chief also says they were not able to fight the fire as quickly as they could have because the water pressure on site was inadequate.

A memorial is growing for 35-year-old Spring Valleyvolunteer firefighter Jared Lloyd, the 15-year veteran who was killed trying to rescue people trapped inside on the third floor.

“Unfortunately, Jared pushed to the last possible second. Him and other members were evacuating a victim that was on the phone with 911, stating he was trapped, he needed help … On their way out, conditions worsened and he was separated from his crew,” Fire Chief Ken Conjura said.

 

[Filly]

RIP Jared Lloyd.

Condolences to all the heroic firefighters beside him.

Saving the elderly.

 

[sds71]

When firefighter Jared Lloyd was killed in the line of duty on March 23, his comrades organized a fire truck birthday parade for his 6-year-old son, Logan, the day after his father’s tragic death.

"No one had to answer that call, but people answered it and they stepped up," firefighter Matthew Boney, who helped spearhead the effort, told FOX Television Stations Tuesday. "They made that happen for a little kid."

Fallen firefighter’s 6-year-old son gets fire truck parade for birthday 1 day after father’s death

 

[sds71]

Final salute to be held for fallen Rockland County firefighter Jared Lloyd

By Eyewitness News
Saturday, April 3, 2021 7:14AM

The funeral will be followed by a procession for a ceremonial "last call."

SPRING VALLEY, Rockland County (WABC) -- A final farewell will be held Saturday for the firefighter who lost his life last month in a massive fire at a nursing home residence in Rockland County.

The funeral service for Spring Valley firefighter Jared Lloyd is expected to begin at 11 a.m.
Family, friends and colleagues will pay their last respects at Palisades Credit Union Park in Pomona.

A procession will carry Lloyd's body into the stadium and will be escorted by the Rockland County Police Emerald Society Pipes and Drums Band.

Following the funeral, there will be a procession that will go down Route 45 to Route 59, up West Street to Lloyd's Columbian Firehouse for a ceremonial "last call," west on Maple to Route 306, then north on Route 306 to Brick Church Cemetery.

The route is expected to be lined with well-wishers eager to pay their respects to the volunteer firefighter who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

The hearse and the fire truck with the casket will stop in front of the fire house and the fire dispatcher will get on the fire service radio airwaves and sound the Spring Valley Fire Department tones, the radio signals that Spring Valley firefighters learn to listen for.
Spring Valley fire: Funeral service for firefighter Jared Lloyd to be held in Pomona Saturday, April 3 - ABC7 New York (abc7ny.com)

 

[sds71]

Two of the accused are Spring Valley officials Bldgs and DPW Chief Wayne Ballard Bldg Inspector Ray Canario, who also is a local fire chief

2 Charged With Manslaughter in Deadly Rockland Adult Home Fire

 

[Jmoose]

Two of the accused are Spring Valley officials Bldgs and DPW Chief Wayne Ballard Bldg Inspector Ray Canario, who also is a local fire chief

2 Charged With Manslaughter in Deadly Rockland Adult Home Fire

You’d think that the owner of this nursing home would be under arrest, too, but that name is notably and not surprisingly absent.

 

[sds71]

You’d think that the owner of this nursing home would be under arrest, too, but that name is notably and not surprisingly absent.

He greases the right palms of both parties.
The stuff he gets away with in monsey and kyrias joel is crazy.

 

[Jmoose]

He greases the right palms of both parties.
The stuff he gets away with in monsey and kyrias joel is crazy.

I know he gets away with everything-they really should be reporting the name of that owner and not just the crooked town officials that he paid off to look the other way. People in Rockland County (where I used to live) knew that the day would come where a volunteer firefighter would be killed fighting a fire in a structure that wasn’t up to code there. And that of course whoever was living there would suffer the same fate. Firefighters there (Monsey, Spring Valley, etc) always knew this was a distinct possibility, but up until now, were extremely lucky. This absolutely infuriates me, that someone can get away with killing 2 people, because he is paying off all of the right officials. And this isn’t a “one-off”, either. There are thousands of structures in Rockland and Orange counties alone where this is happening-and more in Brooklyn and in NJ. This same thing can happen over and over again. I don’t know how these firefighters even step foot inside, except that they seem to have a higher calling.

 

[sds71]

I know he gets away with everything-they really should be reporting the name of that owner and not just the crooked town officials that he paid off to look the other way. People in Rockland County (where I used to live) knew that the day would come where a volunteer firefighter would be killed fighting a fire in a structure that wasn’t up to code there. And that of course whoever was living there would suffer the same fate. Firefighters there (Monsey, Spring Valley, etc) always knew this was a distinct possibility, but up until now, were extremely lucky.

I used to live in Tuxedo.
My ex husband works in the rockland/orange/bergen area…lots of nursing home and “apartment”stories.

 

[Jmoose]

Has Spring Valley bothered to figure out why the water pressure was so low that they had difficulty fighting the fire? I’m guessing a lot of illegal hookups to the public water source. I don’t think they will ever actually say that, though

 

[Jmoose]

I used to live in Tuxedo.
My ex husband works in the rockland/orange/bergen area…lots of nursing home and “apartment”stories.

Heartless and stupid, isn’t it?

 

[Jmoose]

I have to correct myself-looks like the Rabbi and his son are facing the most serious charges, and they did name him. And said that the Rabbi was using a blow torch at the time the fire erupted. Who would ever expect that a blow torch, coupled with no sprinklers or fire alarms, as well as low water pressure could possibly lead to the deaths of two people?? And did they really move the other residents to another of the owners “nursing homes”? Where the same thing could happen? The owner of this nursing home had two independent contractors, one of whom was a rabbi, and clearly no actual construction skills doing work on the place? And yet the owner isn’t facing manslaughter charges…

 

[sds71]

Spring Valley firefighter Jared Lloyd honored with Medal of Valor at White House ceremony

Jared Lloyd' mother and sons received the nation's highest civilian medal of honor from President Joe Biden Monday.

news.yahoo.com

White House Awards Hudson Valley Firefighter Posthumous Medal Of Valor

President Joe Biden cited Jared Lloyd's heroic actions to protect innocent civilians during the fire at the Evergreen Court Home for Adults.

patch.com

 

[sds71]

A Rockland judge reviewing the indictment against the head of the village's building department kept two criminal charges and dismissed one count, resulting from the investigation into the 2021 fatal Evergreen Court Home for Adults.

Judge Kevin Russo, however, found that while the grand jury presentation producing charges of filing false inspection reports was legally sufficient, Wayne Ballard's attorney made a strong case that the evidence was deficient.

Whether the District Attorney's Office evidence holds up would be determined if the case against Ballard goes to trial. That is when Ballard's lawyer could cross-examine witnesses and present counter-evidence.

As for the grand jury's third count of second-degree falsifying a business record, Russo wrote the District Attorney's Office failed to establish a case. The business record is maintained by the state, not the village, and is not controlled by Ballard, Russo wrote in his decision.

Evergreen Court Fire: Judge upholds two charges against Ballard, dismisses a third count

Rockland Judge Kevin Russo dismisses one count against Wayne Ballard and sustains two other counts from the fatal fire investigation at Evergreen Court

www.yahoo.com

 

[sds71]

Jared Lloyd's mom files wrongful death lawsuit against Spring Valley, rabbis and others

The suit claims Jared Lloyd's death caused by "unsafe and hazardous" conditions, and seeks undisclosed financial compensation.

www.lohud.com