A Christmas Day fire tore through the Rockland County home of Nobel prize winning author Toni Morrison, injuring two firemen and possibly destroying some original manuscripts, a fire official said.
Morrison, 62, was not in the house at the time, but a son who was present in the sprawling old home beside the Hudson River tried to fight the flames. He escaped without harm Piermont Police reported.Nyack Fire Chief Paul Wannamaker said Morrison arrived at the house in the suburb of Grand View about 15 miles north of New York City, about two hours after the blaze, "and mentioned she had manuscripts on the premises."
Wannamaker said because of the condition of the four-story shingle home he advised the celebrated novelist not to enter the house.
The fire chief said he understood that "there's a possibility these manuscripts may have been in an area protected from fire."