Video provided by Mark Lieb/Rockland Video Production
CHESTER – Fire in the Village of Chester late Thursday afternoon heavily damaged businesses and left people homeless.
It happened on Main Street and Academy Avenue, also known as Route 94.
Chester Fire Department Captain Dan Doellinger said firefighters were met by smoke and flames in an alleyway between two buildings. The fire quickly spread to the buildings on each side and up to the roofs. A white wood frame building on the left suffered the most damage. It contained at least three businesses downstairs and apartments above.
Doellinger said firefighters had to rescue one person who was in one of those apartments.
No one was injured.
The fire official said the buildings sustained heavy fire, smoke and water damage.
He said more than 40 firefighters from at least four area departments spent nearly four hours putting the fire out.
