The hulking former Temco Uniforms factory at 29 Samsondale Avenue in West Haverstraw is now just a fenced-off, smoldering lot after a massive overnight blaze early Monday. The multi-hour fire tore through the roughly 32,000-square-foot building, causing sections of the aging structure to collapse as thick smoke drifted over nearby homes. Officials reported no injuries and said by Monday evening the cause of the fire was still under investigation.
Large, multi‑department response
The alarm came in late Sunday night and drew more than 70 firefighters from at least five departments. Crews attacked the flames from the outside only, since the structure was already compromised and considered too dangerous to enter. As Rockland News reported, firefighters returned early Monday to knock down rekindled hotspots, and train traffic on the adjacent freight line was temporarily halted at the height of the blaze.
Owner and village reaction
According to News 12, the former Temco Uniforms building was demolished after flames ripped through it overnight. A spokesman for the property’s owner, Briar Court LLC, said the fire “came at a difficult time,” as the company was already negotiating a sale and dealing with back taxes. West Haverstraw Mayor Robert D’Amelio told the outlet the village had issued violations, fenced and boarded up the building, and recovered a municipal lien on the property.
Contamination history and cleanup status
The site has a long history of environmental headaches. The parcel, known as the Former Temco Uniforms site, has been listed as a Class 2 State Superfund location by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, which means it poses a significant threat to public health or the environment. In 2018, the agency sought public comment on a proposed remedy, according to an NYSDEC fact sheet.
That document notes the presence of tetrachloroethene (PCE) in groundwater and indoor air samples and lays out a cleanup approach that includes a cover system, enhanced in‑situ bioremediation and institutional controls.
Property history
Public records show the 2.6-acre parcel and its roughly 31,800-square-foot building sold in January 2019 for just $10,000, according to Compass. The rock-bottom price and long vacancy left the factory deteriorating for years, prompting concern from neighbors and village officials about both safety hazards and environmental risks.
What comes next
With the charred structure now cleared, attention turns to what sparked the blaze and what state and local officials will do next about cleanup and monitoring at the long-troubled Superfund site. Officials say the cause remains under investigation and that crews stayed on scene to keep an eye on lingering hot spots, Rockland News reports.
The earlier cleanup plan from the NYSDEC will likely be revisited now that the building is gone. Residents can expect additional updates if more environmental testing or remedial work is required at the site.
