Massive Evacuation Effort At Senior Housing High-Rise Blaze

PORT CHESTER, NY —More than 100 firefighters and police were called into action in response to a fire at an affordable senior housing high-rise in Port Chester.

The elderly and disabled residents of the eight-story-tall affordable housing building were evacuated without serious injury, according to Port Chester officials. The residents of about a dozen apartments nearest to the blaze, however, were not able to return home and are being assisted by the Red Cross.

The Port Chester Fire Department initially responded to a commercial fire alarm at the Kingsport Housing complex on King Street. The first units to arrive were directed to a fire on the seventh floor by residents of the building.

Port Chester Fire Captain Melillo reported heavy smoke in the building and transmitted a "10-75" code calling all Port Chester Fire Companies to the scene. Chief Bocchino immediately transmitted a 2nd alarm upon arriving on the scene. Although firefighters were able to contain the fire, extra resources were called for in part because the building houses mostly senior citizens and disabled residents — a number of whom were still in the building.

Mutual aid fire, EMS, and police units were dispatched to assist with the evacuation of the building and to check dozens of individual apartments to make sure everyone was out. Because of the unique makeup of the population of the building, extra assistance with evacuation was required.

The fire was brought under control in less than an hour.

The fire is still currently under investigation by the Westchester County Cause & Origin Unit.

Fire departments from across the region, some from as far away as Ossining and from Greenwich, Connecticut, responded to the fire.

• Port Chester - 2391, 2392, 2393, E-61, E-62, E-63, E-64, TL-2, R-40
• Rye Brook - L-54
• Purchase - 2411, E-241
• Village Of Mamaroneck - 2242, E-41
• Greenwich Fire - Car 1, Car 2, Car 3, E-3, E-4
• Tarrytown Fire - TL-78
• Valhalla Fire - 2481, TL-9
• Ossining Fire - 2331, R-14, U-51
• Town Of Mamaroneck - 2232, R-6
• WCDES - Bat 18, Bat 19, EMS 11, CC-4, CC8, FC-1 C&O Zone 2
• PCPD, RBPD, RPD,
• Port Chester EMS, Scarsdale EMS

Other departments offered emergency coverage while the entire Port Chester Fire Department was engaged at the Kingsport Housing fire. Units tasked with keeping the rest of the Village of Port Chester safe included:

• Harrison - 2163, E-10
• Banksville - 2581, E-158
• Bedford Hills - 2031, TL-57
• Village Of Mamaroneck Fire Department
• Town of Mamaroneck Fire Department
• Purchase Fire Department
• Greenwich Fire Department
• Valhalla Fire Department
• Rye Brook Professional Firefighters Local 4041
• Tarrytown Fire Department
• Harrison Fire Department
• Ossining Fire Department
• Bedford Hills Fire Department
• Port Chester Police Department
• City of Rye Police Department
• Rye Brook Police Department
• Westchester County Department of Emergency Services
• Banksville Independent Fire Co.