Over 70 Firefighters from at least five separate departments responded over the past 24 hours.
By Kim Anderson, Reporter
WEST HAVERSTRAW, NY — Firefighters continue to monitor a massive structure fire at 29 Samsondale Avenue after flames tore through the long-vacant former Temco uniform factory late Sunday night – and then reignited early Monday morning.
According to officials on scene, the fire began at approximately 11:30 p.m. Sunday, quickly escalating into a large-scale emergency. When crews arrived, flames were shooting from multiple areas of the building, prompting a major response involving at least five departments, including the Stony Point Fire Department, West Haverstraw Fire Department, Haverstraw Fire Department, Hillcrest Fire Department, and West Nyack Fire Department, along with support from the Haverstraw Police Department and EMS units.
Roughly 70 firefighters battled the blaze for several hours before bringing it under control. Due to the building’s condition—vacant for more than two decades and already structurally compromised—fire officials made the strategic decision to fight the fire from the exterior only, avoiding the risk of collapse and injury.
Despite initial containment, the fire reignited around 6:00 a.m. Monday, with residents reporting sirens as crews returned to address persistent hot spots. Officials say the size of the structure and layers of debris have allowed fire to continue burning beneath the surface, producing heavy smoke and requiring ongoing monitoring.
Significant portions of the building have collapsed, and crews are now largely focused on watching and containing hot spots, a process that may involve allowing some materials to burn out under controlled conditions.
The site sits adjacent to freight rail lines operated by CSX Transportation. At the height of the fire, train traffic was temporarily halted due to safety concerns as flames rose high into the air. The line is primarily used for freight, not passenger service.
Officials confirmed that no injuries have been reported, including among firefighters—a result credited in part to pre-planning and established response protocols for known industrial structures in the area.
Questions remain regarding current ownership of the property, and authorities have not yet released information about the owner or any responsible parties. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Fire and police personnel remain on scene to ensure the fire does not spread or reignite again.
