An unoccupied house at 101 Montebello Road became the center of an arson investigation after a fire severely damaged three floors of the structure. No injuries were reported in the blaze, which started in the basement shortly before 9 p.m. and spread to the upper floors.
About 75 firefighters from Tallman, Suffern, Sloatsburg, Monsey, Hillcrest, and Mahwah, NJ responded, extinguishing the flames in about 20 minutes, according to a Rockland County deputy fire coordinator. The wood-framed balloon-construction home allowed flames to spread quickly, eventually damaging nearly all of the 2½-story house. Utility company records confirmed that both gas and electric service to the house had previously been shut off, and officials believed the fire may have had multiple points of origin, though further investigation was needed to confirm. The village fire inspector and the Rockland County Sheriff’s Bureau of Criminal Investigations were probing the fire. Ramapo police and Ramapo Valley Ambulance Corps also responded.