Elderly Woman Killed In Overnight Eastchester House Fire

EASTCHESTER, NY — A Westchester woman lost her life in a tragic overnight house fire.

The Eastchester Fire District says that it was dispatched Wednesday morning, around 2:25 a.m., after receiving a report of a structure fire in the back of a home on Lawrence Avenue, in Eastchester. However, on the way to the address, Westchester County Department of Emergency Services dispatchers updated the location of the fire to Park Avenue, in Eastchester.

Once on the scene, firefighters found a well-involved house fire at a two-story, single-family home. They began an interior fire attack and search of the house.

The initial incident commander requested a 10-75 response to the scene, causing all remaining Eastchester Fire District units to head to the fire, while the New Rochelle Fire Department covered the fire district.

The Eastchester Fire District says that firefighters found a "very cluttered condition" throughout the home which made it difficult to stretch hose lines and conduct searches.

When Fire Chief Brian Tween arrived and assumed command of the scene, a second alarm was requested to respond, which brought a New Rochelle Fire Department engine and ladder truck and safety officer; a Yonkers Fire Department Battalion Chief, engine, and ladder truck; and a Mount Vernon Fire Department engine and ladder truck to cover the fire district.

Four hose lines were stretched into the home to fight the fire in the garage, first floor, second floor, and the attic.

While searching the first floor, a New Rochelle firefighter fell through the floor and had to be rescued by the members of his ladder company. A New Rochelle engine company on scene was directed to assist with the firefighter rescue. The Mount Vernon engine and truck were dispatched to the scene for additional manpower and a Scarsdale Fire Department engine and a Greenville Fire Department ladder responded to cover the fire district.

A Yonkers Fire Department ladder company searching the first floor was able to locate a victim and take her outside through a side door. An Eastchester EMS paramedic evaluated the elderly female victim. However, she did not survive. She was the only occupant in the home.

All units were ordered out of the building due to the "cluttered condition" of the home and there were several holes in the first floor where the fire had burned through.

Firefighters used an exterior attack, an aerial ladder master stream, and several exterior hose lines to fight the remaining fire in the home. Once the main body of fire was knocked down, an interior attack extinguished remaining hot spots.

A total of fifty fire officers and firefighters had responded to the scene before it was declared under control. Scarsdale EMS was on scene as a rehab unit. An Eastchester Fire Department engine remained on scene until noon to watch for any flare-ups.

Three firefighters were treated for minor injuries.

The fire was investigated by the Westchester County Cause and Origin Team. The cause was undetermined, but not considered suspicious.