Fire destroys used car dealership in Haverstraw, New York. Three firefighters hurt.

One of firefighters was taken to Westchester Medical Center in serious condition, Haverstraw Fire Chief Peter Rugg said yesterday.

The fire, which seriously damaged the building, forced the closing of southbound Route 9W for nearly 2 1/2 hours, Rugg said.

“The building is pretty much destroyed,” said Capt. Martin Lund of the Haverstraw Police Department. “The fire is under investigation.”

Firefighter Brian Holmes, a three-year veteran with the Haverstraw department, was taken to the medical center in Valhalla for smoke inhalation and a high level of carbon dioxide in his blood stream.

Richard Obergon, the nursing supervisor at the medical center, said last night that Holmes was in stable condition.

Firefighter Eric Rausch was taken to Nyack Hospital for heat exhaustion, and firefighter Afran Castro Jr. was treated for an ankle injury.

Lund couldn’t say what the source of the fire was or if foul play was suspected. But Rugg said firefighters checking the building before starting firefighting operations found an open window.

Firefighters arrived at the dealership at 1:56 a.m.

Rugg said police initially indicated that a card game had been taking place inside the building.

But firefighters looked through the building and found no signs of people inside and no car in the parking lot that was being used.

Smoke was billowing out of the two-story building while the fire in the rear was steadily getting out of control. Rugg said he asked for mutual aid from the West Haverstraw and Congers fire departments, both of which were on standby.

Firefighters worked aggressively to keep the fire from spreading , first breaking through the ceiling and roof to ventilate it and allow the fire to escape.