Fire on Halstead Ave. Displaces 34 Residents

At at approximately 1 p.m. yesterday, a fire at 525 Halstead Ave.—a 16 unit apartment building—displaced a total of 34 individuals who are unable to return to their homes.

No residents or firefighters were injured in the blaze, and the fire department is still unsure of its cause.

The fire was contained quickly and prevented from spreading out of the basement, but the building is still indefinitely closed due to safety reasons, according to Red Cross spokeswoman Carolyn Sherwin.

"The fire was an all-hands-on-deck effort," Sherwin said. "The Red Cross worked with the village fire and police departments and the village and town governments."

The Red Cross, with the help of the Larchmont/Mamaroneck Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), later opened an aid station at the Veterans of Foreign Wars home on Boston Post Road to assist the displaced families and individuals.

"We got the families out of 95 degree heat and into the air conditioned building," Sherwin said. "We served dinner, and had some residents stay overnight."

Currently, the Red Cross and village authorities are working with the building's landlord, contractors and electricians to get the residence operating again. No specific reopening date has been set.

"It's an hour-to-hour project," Sherwin said. "Yesterday, it looked as if some families might be able to return, but that changed."

"If residents need further assistance, we'll be working throughout the week," she added. "Some may need help finding long-term living arrangements."