SPRING VALLY, N.Y. (WCBS 880) — Spring Valley fire officials on Friday confirmed that the fire alarm system at the Evergreen Court Home for Adults, where a deadly blaze broke out this week, was on “test” mode when flames erupted.
At a press conference Friday afternoon, Spring Valley Battalion Chief Ken Conjura told reporters that the blaze grew so large because the fire department was not alerted by an alarm system.
“The fire alarm system in the building was on test,” said Conjura. “We don’t know why that was. We were dispatched from a 911 call for a smell of smoke. That is still being investigated.”
Conjura explained that when an alarm system is on “test,” it still is operational but it does not transmit signals to emergency personnel.
He notes that when the fire department got there, there were also issues with water supply in fighting the blaze.
The fire broke out at the nursing home on Lafayette Street around 1 a.m. and firefighters were able to pull out more than 100 residents, who were taken to nearby facilities.
WCBS 880’s Sean Adams was at the scene and reported the entire complex, which runs the length of the block, was completely destroyed after most of the wooden-frame structure burned to the ground.
One resident of the facility died at a hospital after the fire, according to officials and two firefighters were also injured.
Firefighter Jared Llyod was also killed when he became trapped inside the facility during the blaze.
On Friday, Conjura remembered him as a hero.
“He was that guy that you can call, and he would be there in a minute. He was that guy that couldn't leave because he was afraid to miss something. He's that guy that you want to have on your team,” the chief said.
He added that Lloyd "pushed until the last possible second," noting that when he became trapped, the firefighter was assisting others in evacuating a victim that was on the phone with 911.
“We still don’t know how many people he pulled out of that building that morning by himself,” the fire chief said. “But he continued to do that because this is what he loved. And, speaking with his mother, she wanted everyone to know that he died doing what he loved, and he sacrificed himself for this community every day.”
Black and purple bunting and bouquet after bouquet of flowers were placed at Columbia Fire Engine Company No. 1 on Friday as tribute to Llyod’s sacrifice.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Investigators are cataloging debris and conducting interviews. They will also scrutinize Spring Valley building inspection records.
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