Firefighters Find Non-Working Hydrants During Christmas Day Blaze

POMONA, NY — Volunteer firefighters called out Christmas Day fire in a Rockland County condominium faced extreme circumstances but were able to limit the damage, Hillcrest fire officials said.

The department responded at 2:15 p.m. to Buckingham Court, and found smoke coming out of the door and heavy smoke conditions in the basement of No. 53, one of a four-unit building.

There were "non-working private fire hydrants in the complex," 1st Assistant Chief Peter Gessner said in a news release.

Firefighters were able to quickly contain and extinguish the fire, preventing it from spreading to other units.

Hillcrest Fire Company No. 1 was assisted by members of the Thiells Fire Department.

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