Attic Fire Forces New City Family Out Of Home

A New City family was forced out of their home Wednesday by an attic fire that heavily damaged the 1 Boecher Court house.

More than 60 volunteer firefighters from New City and neighboring fire departments battled the blaze, which was spotted around 3:50 p.m. and quickly ripped through the home.

When firefighters arrived at the house just two blocks off Little Tor Road in New City, flames were tearing through the roof. Clarkstown fire inspectors said it appears the fire started in the attic of the two-story home, but the cause of the blaze was still uncertain.

No one was home at the time of the fire and no one was injured at the house, which is ownedd by Eric and Terri  Ludlow.

Although New City firefighters were at the house within minutes of receiving an emergency call, the fire had consumed much of the top floor of the house by the time they arrived. In addition to firefighters going inside the home to knock down the flames, New City firefighters used their aerial ladder truck to fight the fire from above.

Volunteers spent more than an hour battling the blaze and ensuring the fire was extinguished.

Neighbors said they did not notice anything unusual at the well-kept corner house until they heard firefighters arriving and realized the home was on fire. Half of the home's roof was completely destroyed by the fire.

Clarkstown fire inspectors said the home was left uninhabitable and its utility services had been disconnected for safety.

New City firefighters were assisted by volunteers from Congers, Hillcrest, Nanuet, West Nyack and Spring Valley, with volunteer from the Pearl River Fire Department on standby in case of other emergencies. Members of the New City Volunteer Ambulance and Rescue Corps and Rockland Paramedics as well as county fire coordinators also assisted at the scene of the fire.

No neighboring homes were damaged by the fire.