Smoke Condition Forces Evacuation at Office Complex on Mamaroneck Avenue

A five-story office building on Mamaroneck Avenue was evacuated Monday afternoon after two of the building's three underground electrical feeders caught fire.

The fire began around 12:30 p.m. at 550 Mamaroneck Avenue in Harrison. The building's feeders are located under Mamaroneck Avenue. Smoke extended from the fire into the complex. The feeders burned until about 2 p.m.

"They're burning right now. Not real bad, but bad enough," William Nardozzi, safety officer of the Harrison Fire Department, said from the scene at about 1:30 p.m.

Smoke filled the basement, but the fire never reached the building, Nardozzi said. Firefighters canvased the building and raised a ladder to the roof upon arrival to check for fire.

No one was injured and all occupants of the building, which houses several businesses, were evacuated. A crowd of people who had been inside stood in the parking lot behind the building for a few hours before dispersing.

A portion of Mamaroneck Avenue northbound was closed in front of the building for about an hour while firefighters and Con Edison workers evaluated the scene. Both lanes were open again by 3 p.m.

"Every once in a while you'll see a puff of smoke come out of the grates, that's why we have it all cordoned off," said Nardozzi. "It could be very dangerous if they decide to go."

Cliff Gevirtz, a doctor with the Scarsdale Medical Group, which has offices on the first floor, said he noticed something was wrong when lights in the building started blinking at about 12:35 p.m.

"The lights flickered once or twice and then went off and went back on and then off, and then the fire alarm went and we had to evacuate," said Gevirtz.

The medical group performs about 12 upper or lower endoscopies a day. When the alarm sounded Gevirtz said there were patients under mild anesthesia who had to be awaken.

"As part of the accreditation of having an office-based practice you have to run drills like this," he said. "We awaken the patients and bring them out."

Patients who were receiving treatment at the Scarsdale Medical Group were transferred to White Plains Hospital. Harrison EMS was also treating patients at the scene.

Nardozzi said it is too early to determine the cause of the fire, but that it is likely heat-related. Temperatures in the area reached the low 90s.

Firefighters rotated personnel to avoid dehydration. The Harrison, Rye and Mamaroneck Fire Departments were on the scene along with Harrison and Port Chester-Rye Brook EMS.

The problem could be fixed as soon as this afternoon. A Con Edison supervisor at the scene estimated that power would be restored by the end of the day.

The offices remained evacuated for the remainder of the day while the smoke cleared.