SLOATSBURG, NY — A second-alarm house fire caused heavy damage to a home on Birch Road in Sloatsburg on Sunday afternoon, prompting a large emergency response from multiple fire departments across Rockland County and neighboring New Jersey.

Fire crews were dispatched to the scene at approximately 3:45 p.m. after reports of a structure fire at the residence. According to officials, the fire began in a second-floor bedroom and quickly spread into the attic and hallway.

The blaze was quickly upgraded to a second-alarm response as firefighters worked to bring the fire under control. Crews were able to knock down the main body of the fire in about 30 minutes.

Multiple agencies responded to the scene, including the Sloatsburg Fire Department, Suffern Fire Department, Hillburn Fire Department, Mahwah Fire Department, Spring Hill EMS, Faist EMS, and the Town of Ramapo Police Department.

Authorities reported that no civilian injuries occurred during the incident. During the response, a firefighter rescued a dog that had run back into the burning home.

Despite the quick response from emergency crews, the home sustained significant damage and the family was displaced.

Officials say the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

RAMAPO, NY — The Ramapo Police Department is addressing what officials say was inaccurate reporting in a recent social media post by 101.5 WPDH regarding police activity on a Hudson Valley street.

According to Ramapo Police, the WPDH headline described the situation as “chaos” and suggested there had been an “oopsie” or a “mistake by police.” Officials say those descriptions do not reflect what actually occurred.

Police said officers responded to the location after being notified by a county agency conducting an inspection that had identified suspicious-looking fluids. Because officers are not chemical experts, the Rockland County Hazardous Materials Team was requested to respond and evaluate the substance in accordance with standard public safety protocols.

Authorities said the response was precautionary and followed established procedures used when an unknown substance is encountered.

“There was no chaos, no mistake by police, and no misunderstanding,” officials said in a statement. “The response was calm, controlled, and precautionary.”

Police also noted that weather conditions at the time included periods of heavy rainfall, which resulted in minimal pedestrian activity in the area.

Officials emphasized that calling in trained hazardous materials specialists is the appropriate response when officers encounter a potential chemical hazard.

The department added that while officers are committed to protecting public safety, accurate reporting is important when describing emergency responses.

“Public safety deserves accuracy, not sensationalism,” the department said.