Growing up on Long Island, Rockland County was about 50 miles away from my home. It was known to be a breeding ground for some of the state’s best firefighters and top fire instructors. Many FDNY firefighters were two-hatters: They volunteered in their small Rockland County community as well as served on the FDNY. As a result, they brought a wealth of knowledge to those various volunteer companies. The foundation for much of that derived from the fact that Rockland’s fire academy was world-renowned. Its instructors, programs and facility were sought-after. A handful of times, I traveled there for classes and seminars. They always were packed.
That’s what made the news of March 23, 2021, difficult to believe. One resident was killed, one firefighter was critically injured and one firefighter was missing at a horrific blaze in Spring Valley, NY.
Tragically, Jared Lloyd, a 35-year-old father of two young boys, perished in the fire. Lloyd was a lieutenant with Columbian Engine Co. #1 in Spring Valley. He called a mayday, but advancing fire conditions prevented his brother and sister firefighters from rescuing one of their own.
Crews spent almost 24 hours combing the debris of the burned and collapsed building until Lloyd was recovered. The entire time, firefighters from all over were on scene to lend support to the Spring Valley firefighters, who were waiting all along to bring their brother home.
“He was never alone,” ex-chief and fire photographer Kenny Flynn wrote in one of his Facebook posts following the tragedy. “Hundreds of his fellow firefighters—some who knew him dearly and many he had never met—waited over him, watched over him and made sure he came home.”
Flynn, who shoots area fires when he isn’t responding on calls with his New City, NY, firefighters, shared a few photographs, along with some very poignant words, through Facebook posts in the days after the tragedy. I spoke with Flynn a few days later. He wasn’t ready to edit all of the photographs but wanted to share a glimpse of what he captured that night: the hell that firefighters faced and the bravery with which they responded. His words, just as powerful as his images, went viral, because so many were feeling the same.
“I felt like I had to say something,” Flynn said. “I didn’t want to ignore that it happened.” The postings, he said, ended up being therapeutic for him.
The day after Lloyd’s body was recovered from the fire was the sixth birthday of his son, Logan. Local firefighters decided to put together a birthday drive-by celebration for Logan. Within hours, close to 100 fire apparatus, along with ambulances, police cars, tow trucks and dump trucks, were staged for the parade, which lasted about 30 minutes. The brotherhood and sisterhood was strong that night.
Area fire companies stood up crews to staff Spring Valley’s fire stations as Lloyd’s mates grieved and planned for the funeral. The weekend after the fire, local fire companies conducted boot drives and raised more than $100,000 for Lloyd’s family. Members of surrounding companies cleaned and prepped Spring Valley rigs for the funeral. The brotherhood and sisterhood was strong that following week.
The investigation was in the early stages at press time, but it’s estimated that more than 130 people were inside when the March 23 fire was discovered. Talking with area firefighters in the days after, it was the fire of a lifetime, even before Lloyd’s mayday was called. When firefighters arrived, they encountered heavy fire and dozens who were in need of immediate rescue. Because of the bravery that was exhibited by all of the firefighters who responded, only one occupant died.
“There are several people alive at this moment because of their actions, but that’s little consolation to a lot of firefighters who are currently digging through rubble to find their Brother right now,” Flynn shared in his first post.
Lloyd didn’t die in vain. He worked until the end to save countless lives.
You can donate to help Jared’s family at here.
