Midnight Electrical Fire Damages Dobbs Ferry Townhouse

A late-night fire on Manor House Lane could have been disasterous, said resident Phil McGovern, because groups of four units are adjoined by a shared wall between each.

But thanks to the efforts of the  the fire was contained and extinguished within minutes.

The fire at 36 Manor House Lane began Wednesday around midnight. "I saw the actual smoke in my living room and got my husband and my son up and called the fire department," said Graziella Amendola, a lifelong Dobbs Ferry resident. No injuries were reported.

"They said it may be electrical, but they're not sure," Amendola said. "It destroyed everything. The fire went up the walls into the attic."

Though fire department officials were unavailable to answer questions this morning, McGovern said it was due to their efforts that "a real tragedy was prevented." 

"They flew up here and had the fire out in no time," he said.

According to McGovern, each unit on Manor House Lane has a utility room in the back, and that "something sparked, causing the fire in [Amendola's] house."

Amendola said she had a lot of family in the area, and that she, her husband and son would have no trouble finding a safe place to spend the night.