Spring Valley fire leaves 13 families homeless

SPRING VALLEY - A Tuesday night fire destroyed two apartments, displaced more than a dozen families and killed five cats.

The blaze started shortly after 7 p.m. in a second-level apartment at 108 Union Road before quickly spreading to an adjoining unit, said Spring Valley Fire Chief Ray Canario.

Some 100 firefighters and other first responders arrived within minutes of a 911 call, Canario said, and had the fire under control by about 7:30. They arrived to find an apartment fully engulfed in flames, he said.

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The Red Cross said early Wednesday that it was helping 53 people from 13 families — 28 adults and 25 children. A shelter has been opened at the Salvation Army at 179 Main St. in the village, where food, shelter and mental health support is available to the displaced residents.

Residents described a chaotic scene as dozens of people fled the burning structure and neigboring units.

"The flames were just shooting all over the place," said Steven Worth, a neighbor at 112 Union Road.

Worth said that a woman lived alone in Unit 108 with the cats that perished.

Firefighters said no residents or responders were hurt, and at least one cat was saved.

Some 80 residents of the complex watched the firefighting efforts.

Firefighters remained on the scene after 9 p.m., mopping up operations and looking for hot spots inside the charred apartments.

Canario said two apartments were destroyed by fire, six had serious water damage, four others had some water damage, and 18 others lost power because of the fire. The cause of the blaze, he said, was under investigation.