Inspectors find more than a dozen violations at Ramapo home after fire
Town officials say the Hillcrest property was illegally converted.
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Inspectors found more than a dozen violations at a home on Williams Avenue in Hillcrest following a fire earlier this week. News 12 obtained the violation report through a FOIL request.
Bright orange notices are now posted at 106 Williams Ave., outlining multiple safety and code issues.
The violation report News 12 obtained shows the single-family home had been converted into four separate units. Inspectors also cited electrical hazards and the lack of required smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. The town has revoked the property’s certificate of occupancy.
RELATED: Woman hospitalized with smoke inhalation after Hillcrest fire; blaze started on kitchen stove
Documents also show the garage was converted, which would violate town zoning laws. Those same documents list the property owners as living in the home. Attempts were made to contact them for comment. Multiple officials had earlier told News 12 there were about a dozen people from the same family living there.
The Town of Ramapo says the owners will need permits to repair both the fire damage and the cited violations. Officials said the owners have 30 days to make corrections or face prosecution under town laws. Additional postings from Ramapo and the Rockland County Health Department state that the building is not safe to occupy because of the fire.
A woman was taken to Westchester Medical Center for smoke inhalation after the fire on Monday morning. Officials said the flames likely started in the kitchen and did not appear suspicious. Investigators have not yet released an official cause.
The Red Cross assisted 14 people who were displaced by the fire.
