Ossining Residents Homeless After Fire Rips Through Home

UPDATE: The Red Cross is helping seven Eastern Avenue residents, who are homeless this afternoon, because of yesterday's fire inside their house. A family of four, who lived in the home, is now staying at a nearby motel. The Red Cross is helping the family with funds for food and clothing. The other three adults who lived in the home are staying with family and friends.

"While I’d defer to fire officials to speak on the cause of the blaze, with temperatures dipping across the region it is important for people to take a look at their own fire safety and prevention plan. Home fires tend to spike during cold weather. Residents should ensure that any heating sources are properly vented and that they are at least three feet away from any flammable materials, including paper, bedding and curtains," said Red Cross Regional Communications Director Sam Kille.

The Ossining fire has many people thinking about how prepared they would be if a blaze erupted in their home. For tips on fire preparedness click on this link at the Red Cross website.

The Ossining Fire Department says the cause of the fire is still under investigation. Fire Chief Thomas Reddy says he is still waiting to interview one more person who lived in the home, before he can make a determination as to the cause of the blaze.

ORIGINAL JANUARY 2 STORY:

rescued two parrots after a fire engulfed a multi-family dwelling at 22 Eastern Ave. this afternoon.

Chief Tom Reddy said about 75 volunteer firefighters responded. The fire went up the back of the house on the outside. Then it caught the second floor porch and traveled up to the eaves and into the roof and attic, Reddy said.

The cause is still unknown, Reddy said.

Claire Lane, the parrots' owner, said she doesn't know what sparked the fire — she was at work when it began and came home "to find the house on fire," she said.

She's grateful to the firefighters for saving Kiwi and Mr. Wing.

While the fire had been put out by 1:15 p.m. firefighters remained on the roof to check for any pockets of fire

Reddy said several other people were evacuated.

Firefighters put the parrots on the porch under quilts while they got the fire under control and then brought them downstairs to Lane, the owner, who tucked the birds into a backpack to get warm.

Briarcliff came with mutual aid along with the Croton FAST team. 

Millwood and Sleepy Hollow firefighters were on standby.

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