Rockland County, NY – A Monsey home has been declared uninhabitable by authorities after a blaze that broke out late Friday afternoon and was apparently started by a Chanukah menorah.
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According to News 12, five children, their parents and a grandmother escaped the home at 1 Tauber Terrace safely and were taken in by neighbors.
The family told officials that the fire began after a candle burning on a wood table spread to an adjacent wall, climbing quickly to the house’s second story, although authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire.
Reports on LoHud say that the family was in a different room when the fire began and when occupants returned to the room and saw the fire, the homeowner attempted to put out the fire on his own. The fire was reported to authorities at 5:04 PM on Friday.
Among those responding to the fire were more than 60 firefighters from the Spring Valley, Thiells, Hillcrest and Monsey Fire Departments, Rockland Paramedics, Rockland Volunteer Ambulance Cop, Orange and Rockland Utilities and the Rockland County Sheriff’s Department BCI Unit. One firefighter from the Hillcrest Fire Department sustained minor burns to his hand and knee and was treated on scene.
“The fire was actually coming out the first floor window,” said Hillcrest Fire Chief Chris Bowers. “There was heavy fire to make entry into the building, a lot of smoke obviously.”
Just over 50 hours after the blaze, the scent of fire still lingers in the air and yellow police line tape fluttered in the breeze at several homes on this small cul de sac.
At 1 Tauber Terrace, only the two car garage appears to be untouched by flames, with melted siding hanging ominously from the eaves. Shattered windows give view to the blackened interior of the home, which officials say will likely be declared a total loss.
“We did the best we could,” said Chief Bowers, who noted that much of the fire was under control in approximately half an hour. “They did a tremendous job, an excellent stop under the conditions they had.”
I lit my kids wood menorah thinking I will take it out in two three minutes and I forgot it started to burn I almost set my house on fire.we have to be careful
Wooden menorahs should not be lit.
menorahs should be lit well away from flammable items and the surface they are on should be covered with an anti-flammable material, e.g. Aluminium foil.
1) why put chanukiyot on a wooden table
2) did they not hear smoke detectors?
3) why would you try putting the fire out yourself?
We put aluminum foil on the walls behind and adjacent to the Chanuka licht. We also put aluminum foil on the wall next to the burner which we keep lit under our blech for Shabbos.
It took the firemen 1/2 hour to get water to this fire. The hydrant was frozen.They did a great job? I wonder who they asked. I hope the owner of this house sues Monsey’s fire dept.
There is a chance the person whose house burned down, reads these comments, let’s be more sensitive.
You people are a bunch of sickos
איך בין ענק נישט מקנא!
Burning candles need to be watched, period.