A fast-moving fire gutted a home at 35 Dolson Road, but the family got out safely. Eighty-five firefighters from eight departments, including Tallman, battled the blaze in temperatures hovering around 10 degrees. Five people were home at the time — the homeowner’s mother, wife, their two young children, and a housekeeper — and all escaped without injury.
Firefighters arrived to flames pouring from a second-story bedroom; the fire spread to the attic and eventually consumed the entire 5,600-square-foot stone and stucco house, built in 2008. Rockland’s deputy fire coordinator said crews’ gear and helmets froze solid, with water turning to ice on contact. Firefighters worked in shifts to warm up, remaining on scene until 4 p.m. dousing hot spots.
In addition to Tallman, crews responded from Hillcrest, Monsey, Nanuet, Sloatsburg, Spring Valley, Suffern, and Mahwah, NJ. The Ramapo fire inspector and Rockland County Arson Unit investigated; the cause was believed to be accidental.