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Police/Fire/EMS

Piermont Fire Department Warns Residents About Safe Fireplace Ash Disposal After Brush Fire

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Residents are urged to be mindful of how they dispose of fireplace ashes and hot coals. Yesterday, the Piermont Fire Department responded to a small brush fire located approximately 10 feet from a structure. The fire was caused when a resident disposed of hot fireplace coals into a leaf pile that was covered with snow. Despite the cold conditions, the coals continued to smolder and ignited nearby debris.

To safely dispose of fireplace coals, residents should first ensure the ashes are completely cold—this can take several days. Soaking ashes with water can help speed up the cooling process. Once fully cooled, scoop the ashes into a metal container with a tight-fitting lid. The container should be stored outdoors and away from structures.

Cold fireplace ashes may be placed in outdoor trash, used sparingly in gardens for soil enrichment or pest control, or added to compost after thoroughly soaking them. Never dispose of hot or warm ashes in plastic bins, cardboard containers, or near combustible materials. Hot coals can retain heat for days and pose a serious fire risk if improperly discarded.

Fire officials remind residents that proper ash disposal is essential to preventing accidental fires and keeping homes and neighborhoods safe.

Photo courtesy of the Piermont Fire Department

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Police/Fire/EMS

Ramapo Police Halt Test of Advanced License Plate Reader Cameras

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Ramapo Police Chief Daniel Hyman announced that the department will not move forward with a planned test of a new generation of automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras, citing privacy concerns and the need to balance law enforcement technology with constitutional protections.

Hyman said the technology being considered goes beyond the department’s existing fixed license plate readers. While current cameras primarily capture license plates to help identify wanted or stolen vehicles and assist with criminal investigations, the newer systems include advanced investigative analytics and vehicle-identification capabilities.

“Those capabilities can provide tremendous value to law enforcement, but they also raise legitimate questions about privacy and the appropriate limits of government technology,” Hyman said.

Hyman emphasized that the decision does not affect the traditional fixed LPR cameras currently used by the Ramapo Police Department and does not represent a rejection of license plate reader technology overall.

Instead, he said the department is exercising caution because of the expanded capabilities of the newer systems.

“Our responsibility is to protect both” public safety and constitutional protections, Hyman said.

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Police/Fire/EMS

Two Hospitalized After Crash on Kings Highway in Valley Cottage

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Emergency crews responded to a motor vehicle collision Sunday morning on Kings Highway, where two people were transported to the hospital.

Medic 5, RPS 8, Congers-Valley Cottage Ambulance and the Valley Cottage Fire Department responded to the scene.

Two patients were transported to Montefiore Nyack Hospital in stable condition.

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