OSSINING, NY — The Ossining Fire Department has released new details about Friday night's four-alarm structural fire at Parth Knolls, saying seven families were evacuated from the building and that no injuries or loss of life were reported.
The firefighting efforts were complicated by maintenance at the nearest water tower.
The department said it was dispatched at 6:57 p.m. on Friday to Hawkes Avenue for a report of a building struck by lightning with smoke in the building. The first unit called responded at 6:59 p.m., and the first unit arrived at 7:02 p.m.
Assistant Chief Rinaldi reported heavy smoke from the structure and requested a working fire assignment, then crews began an interior attack as fire became visible through the roof.
"We want to begin this post with one thing in mind and the most important aspect of this entire event, NO INJURIES OR LOSS OF LIFE," the department said on social media, adding, "Property can be rebuilt and belongings replaced, lives can't."
The fire involved Building Number 1, a three-story, 24-unit apartment building, with 16 of the 24 units inhabited. Responding officers from the Ossining Police Department entered the building before the chief arrived to begin evacuating occupants, and firefighters then assisted with clearing the building.
"In total, 7 families were safely evacuated by the joint efforts of the OF & OPD," according to the department.
As conditions worsened and the fire spread across the roof and cockloft, crews were pulled from the building because structural collapse was considered likely, according to the department. Firefighters then used aerial ladders and deluge monitors in a defensive operation. After the fire was knocked down from the outside, personnel re-entered to complete a full search.
The department said the facility fire alarm was not sounding when firefighters and police arrived, and an attempt to activate it at a manual pull station was unsuccessful. During the incident, alarms were heard from detectors inside apartments. According to the department, it is believed the lightning strike caused the fire alarm system to malfunction or become inoperable.
The response became one of the largest mutual aid operations in department history, according to the department. Over 38 agencies were on scene or covering the district, with 12 tankers requested from Westchester and Putnam counties because water pressure and volume were reduced during maintenance of the Bracken Road water tower. Crews also drafted water from a pond across the street and from the rear swimming pool.
The Westchester County Department of Emergency Services Cause & Origin Team determined the fire was caused by an "Act of Nature," the department said, identifying a direct lightning strike to the roof near roof-mounted air-conditioning units.
Neighbors later reported a small area burning again aroun 3 p.m. Saturday, prompting crews to return.
The seven residents who stayed in the emergency shelter at the Ossining Recreation department have since been relocated to a local hotel compliments of Gullotta House (a local charity organization that provides temporary help to those in need), according to officials. The Red Cross was on scene and is providing some assistance to each of the residents of the building that was destroyed. Another local support organization, Padres Hispanos, provided free clothing to those who lost everything.
Many of the cars in the building garage were later able to be removed without damage.
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