Fire officials believed careless use of a candle led to a massive blaze at 500 East Funston Ave. in Spring Valley. Investigators said the fire started accidentally in a unit when sheets on a bed were ignited by a candle on the floor; the tenant reportedly tried to put the fire out themselves before calling 911, which officials believe contributed to how out of control it became.
Fire crews from all over Rockland County, including Tallman, were called in to help fight the flames, and it took emergency crews 3 hours to bring the fire under control. As many as 20 apartments in the building were damaged by fire, smoke, or water, with 13 completely destroyed. More than 50 people — 25 adults and 17 children — were left homeless. Residents of the neighboring building were allowed back into their apartments the next day.
Some victims used a Red Cross shelter set up at Spring Valley High School overnight; the Red Cross closed the shelter the following day once it was no longer needed. Eleven fire departments from around the county responded to the mutual aid call.