The body of a missing firefighter has been recovered from the rubble of the massive blaze that engulfed a Rockland County assisted living facility, a local official confirmed Wednesday.
“Early this morning the recovery efforts were successful and the body of a fallen firefighter, a hero for all, was recovered and removed with great solemnity by his fellow brothers and sisters in the fire and emergency services,” Clarkstown Supervisor George Hoehmann said in a Facebook post.
The fallen firefighter was identified as Jared Lloyd, 35, a Queens native and volunteer with Columbia Fire Engine Co. 1 in the village, lohud.com reported.
Loyd has two young sons, including one who turns 6 today, according to lohud.com. A family birthday dinner was planned for Saturday after Lloyd got off of work, the outlet said.
“This is a very difficult day for our county and also for the volunteers who risk their lives protecting all of us,” Rockland County Executive Ed Day said Wednesday.
“Yesterday, Jared Lloyd gave his life in service to others,” Day said. “His loss is devastating. His loss and his heroism will never be forgotten.”
Rockland County fire coordinator Chris Kear said Tuesday that Lloyd was on the third floor of the burning Evergreen Court Home for Adults building when it collapsed.
Kear cautioned that the body pulled from the rubble shortly before midnight had not been positively identified as Lloyd — a determination that he said will be made by the medical examiner’s office.
Lloyd was one of the first firefighters to arrive on scene, the official said.
Firefighters work the scenes of a fire that burned down the Evergreen Court Home for Adults in Spring Valley, New York, on March 23. AP/Seth Wenig“There was a mayday called by this firefighter,” he said. “The mayday was answered; however with the extent of the fire, the volume of the fire, the conditions were just too unbearable … firefighters went in and they could not locate the firefighter, [so] they had to back down.”
The body of a fallen firefighter was was recovered and removed from the scene of the blaze this morning. Benny Polatseck via ReutersHoehmann said a briefing will be held later Wednesday.
“This is an extraordinarily difficult time for the fire services within Rockland County,” he said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the bravest and the fellow firefighters of Spring Valley who lost a brother today. My condolences and prayers to all so deeply affected by this terrible tragedy. Please do what you can to thank and support our first responders as the next few days will be enormously difficult.”
A police K9 search unit works to recover the remains of a missing firefighter at the scene of an overnight fire that destroyed the Evergreen Court for Adults. Mike Segar/ReutersAuthorities confirmed that one resident of the Spring Valley facility was also killed during the blaze.
Evergreen Court Director Denise Kerr called the deadly fire an “unspeakable tragedy.” AP/Frank Franklin IIIn a statement Tuesday, Evergreen Court Director Denise Kerr said there were 112 other residents at the time of the fire — all of them accounted for.
“This is an unspeakable tragedy at Evergreen Court Home and our hearts and prayers to go to all individuals and families who have been impacted,” Kerr said. “Our staff was truly heroic in evacuating residents who were inside the building as the fire spread, and we are forever grateful to the first responders whose actions undoubtedly saved lives.”
She said the residents were placed in a new home.
