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The Rockland County Department of Health inspected the home at 42 Prospect St., hours after a fire broke out early Tuesday morning, forcing six residents to flee.
"We were very lucky that no one was hurt in this home, which had many safety issues, including a lack of smoke detectors," Day said. "It could have been a death trap."
Health department inspectors posted a notice that the residence was unsafe and could not be occupied.
The Department of Health issued a total of seven violations to property owners Jean and Marie Chatelain. A formal hearing on the charges has not yet been set.
"This appears to be the kind of unsafe rental housing that we are working diligently to force owners to improve," said Day. “This fire shows us once again that the risk to tenants is real.”
The county's Rockland Codes Initiative targets unsafe rental housing and provides a way for residents to report possible safety hazards.
When inspectors went to the home after they fire, they found that the three-story home had been illegally subdivided into four apartments. The owners apparently lived in one apartment and rented the other three, Day said.
The attic apartment, where the fire apparently started, did not have the required second exit or a smoke detector or carbon monoxide detector, he said.
A basement apartment had an air conditioning unit blocking a window, which also violates the sanitary code because it prevents an occupant from getting out during an emergency.
The owners are also being cited for failure to register with the Rockland County Rental Registry, among other charges.
The Rental Registry requires owners of dwelling with three or more units to register online with the Rockland Department of Health and to provide a certificate of occupancy and other information.
It has been more than three months since the Rental Registry went into effect. Landlords must register or face fines up to $2,000 per day.
"We have been focusing on educating landlords about this requirement," the County Executive said. "Now we are going to start issuing violations to get compliance."
For information on the Rockland Codes Initiative, including a confidential online complaint form, click here.
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