A car fire spread quickly one Thursday evening in Suffern, growing into a wind-swept blaze that destroyed much of one East Maltbie Avenue home and damaged another. Police responding to 52 E. Maltbie Ave. shortly before 7 p.m. found a car engulfed in flames; the four occupants of the home, along with about four dogs, had already escaped safely, according to Village Police Chief Clarke Osborn.
Suffern Fire Chief Michael Stark said the car fire spread to a detached garage between the houses at 50 and 52 E. Maltbie Ave. before reaching the homes themselves. The house at 50 E. Maltbie sustained minor exterior damage, while 52 E. Maltbie was heavily damaged by fire, smoke, and water across all three floors — its balloon-frame construction let the fire travel quickly from the outside up into the attic. Heavy winds helped fan the flames, and they were visible for miles.
Suffern firefighters were aided by the Tallman, Hillburn, Sloatsburg, Monsey, and Mahwah fire departments, with Nanuet, Nyack, and Hillcrest on standby. The fire was under control by about 9:45 p.m. One Suffern firefighter was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital with a minor knee injury. The cause was not yet determined, and the Rockland County Sheriff’s Bureau of Criminal Investigations was on scene.