Fire Destroys House On Willow Tree Road

RAMAPO, NY — Firefighters from nine of Rockland County's volunteer departments battled an intense house fire on East Willow Tree Road overnight Tuesday.

Hillcrest Fire Company No. 1 was called to the blaze at 2:14 a.m. Responders found the back of the house and the first and second floors engulfed in flames.

The building had been divided into three separate housing units, fire officials said. The age of the house, and its construction — heavy timber and tongue-and-groove walls and ceilings — made it difficult to extinguish.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Rockland County Sheriff's Office.

Hillcrest Fire Company No. 1 was assisted by firefighters from Monsey, Spring Valley, Tallman, Theills, New City, Stony Point, Suffern and West Haverstraw. Also responding were members of the Hillcrest Ladies Auxiliary, Spring Hill EMS, Chaverim and Ramapo police.

Hillcrest fire officials offered special thanks to Spice and Slice on Saddle Ridge Road for opening up at 4 a.m. and making pizza for all the firefighters at the scene.