Story & Photos by Brian Duddy

A general Alarm fire occurred in New Square, NY on Wednesday May 22, 2002 at 9 Wilson Ave (Rockland County, Hillcrest Fire District).

The fire was radioed in by the Village Fire Inspector.

First arriving units were met with heavy fire condition on the 2nd floor of the 3 story wood frame occupied multiple dwelling.

The fire quickly spread to the 3rd floor & was through the roof within minutes. Mutual aid was quickly called from Spring Valley, New City, Monsey & Nanuet acted as a F.A.S.T. team.

It took firefighters approximately an hour to bring the blaze under control.

The Rockland County Sheriff's Department Bureau Of Criminal Investigation Arson Unit was brought in to attempt to determine the cause of the fire.

Several families were left homeless.