Report: Assisted Living Center's Alarm Off Before Fatal Fire

Government officials and religious leaders say the fire alarm system at a New York assisted living facility was deactivated for several hours the night before a massive blaze erupted that killed a resident and a firefighter Tuesday.

Sources told Westchester's News 12 that the system was most likely turned off at the Evergreen Court Home for Adults in Spring Valley as kitchen crews prepared for Passover. Part of the koshering cleansing ritual for the Jewish holiday, which begins Saturday, involves removing all food with leavening agents and, in some cases, using a blowtorch in the oven.

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Chris Kear, director of Rockland County Fire and Emergency Services, couldn't confirm that the fire alarm system had been off before Tuesday's fatal fire. He did indicate that investigators were looking into whether the facility's sprinkler system was working at the time.

"I have conflicted reports that it was a fully sprinkler building or a partially sprinkler building," he told News 12.

Spring Valley firefighter Jared Lloyd was among the first to reach the scene, and he rushed into the burning Evergreen Court Home for Adults to rescue residents still trapped inside. But the fire's intensity grew, and the 15-year veteran became trapped himself and sent out a mayday call.

His fellow firefighters tried to pull him out, but heavy flames and smoke prevented them from reaching him. For hours after the fire was under control, firefighters scoured the rubble for Lloyd, and his body was found nearly 24 hours after he became trapped.

Investigators will be working for several days to determine what caused the fire, according to News 12.

A GoFundMe campaign has been set up for Lloyd's family.