A massive fire broke out around 11:00 a.m. Tuesday at Building 3 of Nyack Plaza, severely damaging at least 12 residential units and displacing more than a dozen families. Over 100 firefighters from multiple departments across Rockland, Bergen, and Westchester Counties responded to the three-alarm blaze, which officials believe was caused by an electrical issue.
Fortunately, no injuries to residents were reported. In response to the devastation, a relief station has been established at 90 Depew Avenue and the Nyack Senior Center. The Nyack Center is also stepping up, offering food and accepting donations of personal hygiene items and gift cards to assist displaced families. (Note: Clothing donations are not being accepted at this time.)
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to provide additional support for those affected: https://gofund.me/a260d692.
Earlier in the morning, at approximately 10:52 a.m., the Orangetown Police Department responded to a separate structure fire at 101 Gedney Street, also known as The West Shore Towers. Officers discovered a sixth-floor apartment fully engulfed in flames with heavy smoke conditions. The unit was unoccupied at the time. Fire Departments from Nyack, West Nyack, Sparkill/Palisades, Piermont, Orangeburg, Congers, and Tarrytown responded and successfully extinguished the blaze. That fire, too, was deemed non-suspicious and likely electrical in nature. One Nyack firefighter and three Orangetown police officers were treated on scene by EMS personnel.
At 11:17 a.m., police responded to the second and more destructive fire at 409 Nyack Plaza. Upon arrival, patrol units encountered an active fire with heavy smoke conditions. Multiple departments responded, including Nyack, Central Nyack, West Nyack, West Haverstraw, Blauvelt, Sparkill/Palisades, Orangeburg, Congers, Hillcrest, Haverstraw, Monsey, Nanuet, and New City Fire Departments. EMS units from Nyack, South Orangetown, and Pearl River Ambulance Corps, along with Rockland Paramedics, assisted at the scene.
During firefighting operations, one firefighter from Nyack FD and one from Orangeburg FD were treated on scene for injuries. A Nanuet firefighter was transported by ambulance to Westchester Medical Center for further treatment. The Orangetown Police Detective Bureau, Office of Emergency Management, and the Rockland County Sheriff’s BCI Unit responded to assist in the investigation.
PHOTOS & VIDEO CREDIT: SCOTT WATERS
