Spring Valley, NY — Rockland County officials have collected $718,000 in civil penalties from SPJJ LLC, the owners of the Evergreen Court Home for Adults, marking a significant moment in a prolonged battle over safety violations and public accountability. This enforcement comes more than four years after the deadly blaze at the facility that killed volunteer firefighter Jared Lloyd and resident Oliver Heuston.
The fire on March 23, 2021, remains one of Rockland County’s darkest days. Lloyd, a 35-year-old second lieutenant with the Spring Valley Volunteer Fire Department, died in the line of duty after heroically helping evacuate 112 residents. His sacrifice spurred legislative changes and calls for stricter code enforcement across the county.
Now, after years of investigation and litigation – county officials have made their conclusions: The property’s owners not only failed to maintain the site after the fire, but allowed it to deteriorate into a dangerous and blighted space.
According to County Executive Ed Day, “It was bad enough that our community suffered the tragic loss of Firefighter Jared Lloyd and resident Oliver Heuston. For the property owner to then leave the site as a never-ending reminder and eyesore of that tragedy was simply unacceptable.”
The Office of Buildings and Codes and the County Attorney’s Office pursued legal remedies after SPJJ LLC ignored a court injunction to clean and secure the premises. The site became a magnet for trespassers and unsafe activity. Ultimately, enforcement escalated to the brink of a public auction before the owners made a last-minute payment of the fines.
A separate $36,000 contempt fine for non-compliance with court deadlines remains outstanding.
County Attorney Thomas Humbach praised the relentless work of attorneys Larraine Feiden and Scott Bejamin for pressing the case in court. “Our efforts will deter future violations by the property owners and serve as an example of the consequences of code violations to others,” Humbach said.
Director of Buildings and Codes Edward Markunas emphasized the importance of accountability: “This outcome sends a clear message that building-code violations will not be tolerated and that the County will act decisively to protect public safety.”
This latest chapter follows the October 2024 passage of the Jared Lloyd Rockland County Volunteer Benefit Act — renamed in honor of Lloyd to support the families of all volunteer emergency service members who die in the line of duty. The act extends benefits beyond firefighters to include EMS, HazMat, and auxiliary police personnel.
Legislator Paul Cleary, who championed the law, stated at the time, “The Jared Lloyd Act ensures that the ultimate sacrifice made by our volunteers is never forgotten — and that their families are never left behind.”
Rockland County urges residents to report building and code violations in Spring Valley by calling 845-364-3700 or emailing BuildingsAndCodes@co.rockland.ny.us.