Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Firefighters file complaint against New Square official
Hillcrest firefighters have filed a criminal complaint claiming they had cornered two boys they believed were setting fires, but a village official helped them escape, saying they were involved in a religious ritual.
Fire officials also told police that New Square residents gathered and became hostile to firefighters Sunday evening as they tried to follow the two boys, according to the complaint.
The complaint, which seeks a criminal charge against the New Square official, was filed with Ramapo police.
The confrontation marked the latest dispute between the Hillcrest Fire Department and the Hasidic Jewish village. Fire officials have long complained about large trash-bin fires, young men setting blazes and dangerous buildings and conditions for fighting fires in the village.
New Square leaders yesterday said the children were not setting fires but were burning non-kosher food in a religious preparation for Passover's start tomorrow.
Deputy Mayor Israel Spitzer said the children were burning challah bread and were supervised by adults. He said firefighters had been called to another fire and noticed the fire on Bush Lane as they were leaving.
Spitzer described the fire as a "very, very minor fire ... less than a grill in your backyard."
"Maybe they were frustrated for some reason," Spitzer said. "They jumped out in a rush as if there was a terrible situation. And they handled it without control. They overreacted."
http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060411/NEWS03/604110341/1019/NEWS03
Hillcrest firefighters have filed a criminal complaint claiming they had cornered two boys they believed were setting fires, but a village official helped them escape, saying they were involved in a religious ritual.
Fire officials also told police that New Square residents gathered and became hostile to firefighters Sunday evening as they tried to follow the two boys, according to the complaint.
The complaint, which seeks a criminal charge against the New Square official, was filed with Ramapo police.
The confrontation marked the latest dispute between the Hillcrest Fire Department and the Hasidic Jewish village. Fire officials have long complained about large trash-bin fires, young men setting blazes and dangerous buildings and conditions for fighting fires in the village.
New Square leaders yesterday said the children were not setting fires but were burning non-kosher food in a religious preparation for Passover's start tomorrow.
Deputy Mayor Israel Spitzer said the children were burning challah bread and were supervised by adults. He said firefighters had been called to another fire and noticed the fire on Bush Lane as they were leaving.
Spitzer described the fire as a "very, very minor fire ... less than a grill in your backyard."
"Maybe they were frustrated for some reason," Spitzer said. "They jumped out in a rush as if there was a terrible situation. And they handled it without control. They overreacted."
http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060411/NEWS03/604110341/1019/NEWS03
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