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Fire Chief: 4-Year-Old Left Home Alone As Blaze Destroys Rockland Co. Home

MONSEY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A child left home alone was saved thanks to the heroic efforts of some good Samaritans after a fierce fire in Rockland County.

The blaze broke out at the home on West Central Avenue in Monsey on Friday around 1:30 p.m.

Flames were spreading when neighbors saw the fire and screamed for anyone inside. They were able to pull a 4-year-old boy safely from the house.

Monsey Fire Department Chief Adam Gordon told 1010 WINS the boy was actually in a back room of the home and that a municipal worker got the boy out and put him on the front lawn.

1010 WINS' Terry Sheridan With More On The Story

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Gordon said the fire never got to that back room, but could have eventually. He said that former Monsey fire chief Andrew Schlissel saw the boy sitting on the lawn as he was driving by the home and got him to safety.

The boy was apparently left home alone. Gordon told 1010 WINS "He didn't have any guardians with him for a few minutes. His father appeared sometime after, so he was home alone obviously."

The boy's father reportedly had left the boy home for a short time while he picked up something from his brother's home. The 4-year-old's father then returned home to find his son standing near a fire truck and smoke billowed from the home, according to a report on Lohud.com.

The home was destroyed by the blaze and police are investigating the cause.

Authorities are also investigating whether the boy might have been playing with matches.

There's no official word on what caused the fire and so far, no charges have been filed.

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