Car Trouble Causes Explosion and Fire, Injuring Four and Destroying Home

Car trouble caused an explosion and fire that rocked Valley Cottage at 6:15 Nov. 10, burned a Quaspeck Boulevard home to the ground, and took firefighters from several departments hours to subdue.

The Nyack Free Press reported that the homeowner had had trouble getting home in the car. He parked his car halfway into the garage, and left it running for fear it wouldn’t start again—and was in the house on the phone when the explosion occurred.

More than 60 volunteer firefighters fought the fire. Departments assisting the Valley Cottage Fire Department included Congers, West Nyack, New City, Central Nyack, Nyack and Haverstraw, police said.

Three firefighters were injured: two were treated at the scene and one taken to Nyack Hospital, all with minor injuries. The man’s wife burnt her hands and was treated at the scene.

“This was a catastrophe from the get-go,” Valley Cottage Fire Chief Howard Gerber told Nyack Free Press Editor Bill Demarest. “There wasn’t a spot on this house that wasn’t on fire when we arrived.”

The Clarkstown Fire Inspector responded to the blaze at 205 Quaspeck Blvd, police said. His preliminary assessment was that the fire did not appear to be suspicious. However,the home is a complete loss.

PHOTO: courtesy Clarkstown Police Department