Spring Valley Fire: Firefighter's Body Recovered

SPRING VALLEY, NY — The body of a Spring Valley firefighter who made a mayday call as emergency responders raced to rescue residents from a burning assisted living facility was recovered early Wednesday.

Jared Lloyd was a 15-year member of Columbian Fire Engine Co. No. 1.

"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 Town Supervisor George Hoehmann said on Facebook.

The massive fire at the Evergreen Court Home for Adults drew about 125 firefighters from 23 of Rockland County's 26 volunteer fire departments, plus backup from neighboring Westchester County and Bergen County, New Jersey.

The blaze was called in at 1 a.m. by someone reporting smoke and fire alarms going off. Within minutes, fire officials arrived and saw flames coming out of the first floor and lapping at the upper stories, Rockland County Fire Coordinator Chris Kear said in a briefing Tuesday.

About 130 residents lived in the 200-bed facility, which had three floors. Police officers and firefighters rescued 20-30 of them. Ten were taken to nearby hospitals, where one died and others were in serious condition, Kear said Tuesday.

Two firefighters were hospitalized; one was treated and released and the other taken to Westchester Medical Center for smoke inhalation.

SEE: Spring Valley Fire: Relocating More Than 100 Residents

"This is an extraordinarily difficult time for the fire services within Rockland County. Our thoughts and prayers are with the bravest and the fellow firefighters of Spring Valley who lost a brother today," Hoehmann said. "Please do what you can to thank and support our first responders as the next few days will be enormously difficult."

The search began early Tuesday even as firefighters continued fighting hot spots throughout the collapsed building and continued past midnight. Divers were called in to search the flooded basement.

SEE ALSO: Spring Valley Fire: 1 Dead, 11 Hurt, Firefighter Missing