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Garage Fire Consumes Tesla, Severely Damages Old Tappan Home, Authorities Say

UPDATE: Used charcoal tossed into a garbage pail ignited a garage fire that ravaged an Old Tappan home near the Rockland border, authorities said.

The Greenwoods Road blaze near the Rockland County border "was thought to have started from a charging Tesla, because the homeowner just arrived home and plugged the car in," Police Chief Joseph Tracy said.

Responding officers learned that "they had used a charcoal grill the night before to cook dinner," the chief said.

The homeowner "removed the coals from the grill and placed them into a plastic bag, then put the bag in a garbage pail in the attached garage" shortly before 2:30 p.m. Monday, he said.

Responders rushed to the 2½-story wood-frame home, barely 500 feet from the Orangeburg border, soon after.

Aftermath in Old Tappan.

Debby Schreiber Cooke

Firefighters knocked down the main body of the three-alarm blaze within a half-hour but had to contend with deep-seated hot pockets.

The Tesla was destroyed and the house severely damaged. 

Mutual aid responders included firefighters from Harrington Park, Hillsdale, Northvale, Norwood, River Vale, Orangeburg, Sparkill and Tappan.

No injuries were reported in the Greenwoods Road fire in Old Tappan.

Old Tappan PD

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MORE PHOTOS: Old Tappan House Fire 12/20/21 (Debby Schreiber Cooke)

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