Rescuers recovered the body of a fireman almost 24 hours after a major fire at a health care facility in New York on Tuesday left one resident dead and others injured, officials said on Wednesday.
Rockland County executive Ed Day identified the firefighter as Jared Lloyd, a 15-year veteran of the Spring Valley Fire Department who was one of the first to report to the fire site.
“Jared Lloyd gave his life for the service of others,” Day said on Wednesday during a press conference. “He searched while the building was on fire, determined to rescue anyone who might be trapped.”
Lloyd was the second victim in the fire that broke out around 1 am Tuesday at Evergreen Court Home For Adults in Spring Valley, about 30 miles north of New York City. Authorities said the resident who died after being taken to a nearby hospital was a man, but did not disclose his name or any other details.
When firefighters arrived, large flames were already tearing through the building and response teams began to evacuate residents.
Christopher Kear, a Rockland County fire department officer, said Lloyd went to the third floor to rescue someone and “got lost in conditions”.
About 20 residents with fire-related injuries were taken to nearby hospitals, including the resident who was pronounced dead at the hospital, Kear said. One remained in critical condition on Wednesday, he said.
Two firefighters who were also injured and taken to hospitals in the area are expected to recover, Kear said. One of the firefighters was released on Tuesday.
More than 100 people lived in the house, but authorities were still trying to find out how many people were on the premises at the time of the fire.
Kear said the building was completely destroyed and it was too early to comment on the cause of the fire.
In the video captured on the spot, firefighters can be heard shouting “mayday” and “backup” while watching part of the building, engulfed by the flames, collapse. The video also shows Rockland Hatzoloh emergency medical workers at the scene, assisting victims.
Some residents were evacuated by bus to an outside facility after volunteers from Chaverim of Rockland, another EMS group, got them “safe and out of danger”.
Governor Andrew Cuomo instructed the state Department of Health to help move more than 100 residents to other facilities on Tuesday. He also deployed the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services to assist in the investigation of the fire. State police are helping to collect evidence.
“On behalf of the New York family, my heart breaks for those who lost loved ones in the fire, and we pray that everyone involved is safe,” said Cuomo in a statement. “The State will continue to provide all the support necessary to ensure that this happens.”
