Early-Morning Fire Damages New City Home

An early-morning blaze destroyed the garage of a New City home today and one New City volunteer firefighter battling the fire was taken to the hospital for treatment of possible heat exhaustion, according to fire officials.

The firefighter was released from Nyack Hospital by about 11 a.m.

Four occupants of the home at 115 Birch Lane escaped from the fire without injury, according to Assistant Fire Chief Kenny Flynn. The fire was contained mostly within the home's attached garage, but there was some smoke and water damage in living areas of the home, Flynn said.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but the fire is not considered suspicious, Flynn said. He noted the fire was not fireworks related.

Although the fire was in an attached garage, Flynn said there was not vehicle in the garage at the time of the fire.

New City volunteer firefighters were called to the home about 4:30 a.m. and the occupants were already out of the house when firefighters arrived. Because of the holiday and the summer heat, Flynn said New City immediately called in assistance from neighboring fire departments to work with the 20 New City volunteers at the scene of the fire.

Volunteer firefighters from Congers, Hillcrest, Nanuet and West Nyack were called to help at the scene of the fire, with volunteers from Thiells called in to stand by at the New City firehouse on Maple Avenue in case of another emergency. Members of New City Volunteer Ambulance and Rescue Corps, Spring Hill Volunteer Ambulance Corps and Rockland Paramedics were also called to the scene of the fire.

Members of New City Ambulance took the one New City firefighter to Nyack Hospital for treatment of possible heat exhaustion. The volunteer, a veteran firefighter in his 30s, was not identified.

Firefighters completed operations on Birch Lane at about 8 a.m.