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Chestnut Ridge, NY - Fire Department and EMS were all on the scene just before the start of the passover holiday for a fire at a 40X20 wood frame private dwelling at 5 Debra Road from a matzo-baking operation, when heat from the fireplace sent flames to the upper floor and attic, as was reported here on Vos Iz Neias.

Fire Departments from Monsey, Tallman and South Spring Valley responded, they were able to contain the fire to one section of the house. The fire safety inspector, said a dangerous baking procedure had led to the fire.

People had been baking matzos on slabs of stone resting on beds of charcoal inside a pair of propane-fueled barbecue grills on an outdoor patio.

Another bed of hot charcoal had been laid inside a gas-fired fireplace, where the people were carrying them for a final charring. "This mantel is made of metal," the inspector said, and the charcoal fire got it so hot that it ignited wood behind the fireplace's brick facade. "It traveled right up the wall," he said of the fire, "and into the second floor and into the attic."

The owner of the house, Naftali Schwartz, told the inspector and Monsey Fire Chief that no one was actually living there. The family was living in Mount Kisco, and was planning to be at the house only for the Passover.

The inspector deemed the house uninhabitable and said that he had counted 10 beds inside the house, Schwartz said he would lock the doors and no one would stay there. [Journal News]