New City Family Escapes Fire that Damaged Garage

A New City family was alerted to a fire in the garage of their Roberts Road home early this morning and escaped without injury, according to the New City Fire Department.

Fire Chief Kenny Flynn said the New City volunteer firefighters who were first at the home to battle the fire "did an incredible job"  as they quickly kept the fire in check until additional help could arrive — preventing the fire from spreading beyond the garage.

The cause of the fire, reported at 12:17 a.m., in under investigation by the Clarkstown Fire Inspector's Office.

Flynn said that as New City firefighters arrived at 41 Roberts Road they found heavy fire in the three-car, attached garage.

"This time, everything before we were called went "right" - smoke alarms notified the family, they evacuated immedialtey, did not attempt to fight the fire on their own, called 911 immediately and did not open the door from the garage to the home, which would have allowed the fire to spread into the home," said Flynn, who along with other Rockland County fire officials has been urging residents to make sure their homes have working smoke detectors.

New City has had three recent deaths in fires where homes did not have working smoke detectors.

Flynn said by not opening a door to the garage, the homeowners helped limit the fire damage to the garage and its contents. There were not cars in the garage at the time of the fire.

The home, Flynn said, is undergoing renovations and construction material was stored in the fire-damaged area.

New City firefighters were assisted by volunteers from Suffern, South Spring Valley and Congers, along with Clarkstown police, members of Rockland Paramedics and members of the Congers/Valley Cottage Ambulance Corps.

Members of the Nanuet Fire Depatment were on standby in case of other emergency calls.

The emergency crews completed their operations at 2:17 a.m.