A Man Known As Santa Claus: Victim Of Fatal Apartment Fire ID'd

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — A New Rochelle man killed in an overnight apartment building fire in New Rochelle has been identified.

The New Rochelle Fire Department responded to an emergency call at 3:16 a.m. on Friday, reporting a fire in an apartment at 590 Fifth Avenue, Parkside Place.

Upon arrival, NRFD units made a quick assessment and noticed smoke in the southeast corner of the building coming from the third floor. Firefighters entered through the lobby and arrived at the apartment door, and began fire suppression and searches.

During the search, the lone tenant was discovered unconscious. Crews brought him into the hallway, began CPR, and transported him downstairs to an ambulance waiting at the front door. He was transported to Montefiore New Rochelle Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The victim was identified as 45-year-old Damien Peart.

Fire Chief Andrew Sandor said the cause was believed to not be suspicious, and that investigators could not rule out smoking, or an electrical issue within the apartment.

The fire was contained to a single apartment and was extinguished in less than 30 minutes. The building's construction of concrete and steel helped prevent the fire from spreading beyond the area of origin, Sandor said, but that there was some water and smoke damage to adjoining apartments

The death at the six-story apartment building is the first fatal fire in New Rochelle since a woman was killed in a tragic North Avenue blaze in 2022.

Neighbors told ABC News-New York City affiliate WABC that the victim was a beloved part of the community, better known as "Santa Claus."

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Fire officials said that the blaze was mostly limited to the victim's apartment and was brought under control in about 20 minutes. Others in the building were treated on the scene, but there were no other serious injuries reported.