Inspections Continue Following Fatal Lake Street Fire

The Rockland County Office of Buildings and Codes (OBC) and the Department of Health Center for Rockland Codes Investigations (RCI) have spent the past two weeks inspecting all properties owned by Jacob Jeremias, his wife Etsy Jeremias, and properties under his corporation, 7 Ohio LLC.  Jacob Jeremias owns 118 S. Lake Street, which was the site of a recent fatal fire that resulted in 5 deaths.

Any and all information gathered by the County of Rockland will be provided to the Spring Valley Police Department, Rockland District Attorney’s Office, and the Internal Revenue Service pending the completion of these investigations.

The OBC found a significant number of New York State Fire Prevention and Building Code violations at each of the following properties owned and related to Jacob Jeremias.  An excess of 250 potential violations were found and are being finalized before being issued to Jacob Jeremias. A property-by-property breakdown of violations will be provided once they have been issued.

116 S. Lake St., Spring Valley – 118 S. Lake St., Spring Valley – 120 S. Lake St., Spring Valley – 122 S. Lake St., Spring Valley – 86 N. Lake St., Spring Valley – 3 Jay St., Spring Valley – 6 Sherwood Ave., Spring Valley – 4 Ohio Ave., Spring Valley – 5 Ohio Ave., Spring Valley – 7 Ohio Ave., Spring Valley

The County Office of Buildings and Codes (OBC) assumed control of the Village of Spring Valley Building Department as ordered by New York State Department of State (NYSDOS) effective February 14, 2022.

Under New York State law, 3-family homes and above, commercial buildings, and places of assembly are subject to mandatory inspections.  Each of the above properties are single or two-family private residences which are not subject to state mandated inspections.

The Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution protects the right of the people to be secure in their houses and prohibits the government from entering without a search warrant supported by probable cause.

Inspectors were granted access to the above properties with the permission and authority of the tenants.  The County of Rockland urges people to submit complaints of unsafe housing conditions in the Village of Spring Valley to the Office of Buildings and Codes to attempt similar complaint-driven inspections.

The Center for Rockland Codes Investigations (RCI) found more than 150 potential violations on the following properties owned and related to Jeremias:

120 S. Lake St., Spring Valley – 122 S. Lake St., Spring Valley – 6 Sherwood Ave., Spring Valley – 4 Ohio Ave., Spring Valley – 5 Ohio Ave., Spring Valley – 7 Ohio Ave., Spring Valley – 3 De Baun Place, Hillcrest – 46 West Hickory St., Hillcrest

Fines are still being assessed and finalized but many properties had common violations including:

• single-room occupancies
• electrical issues
• missing smoke & carbon monoxide detectors

Inspectors learned smoke detectors were installed by the landlord in at least 3 properties following the fatal fire.

The Office of Buildings and Codes requests all interested parties submit complaints within the Village of Spring Valley by calling 845-364-3700 or emailing BuildingsAndCodes@co.rockland.ny.us.