Police: Cause of Main Street Fire Still Under Investigation

The fire that destroyed a home at 1409 Main Street Saturday night remains under investigation, Peekskill Police Lieutenant Eric Johansen said.

Although there is still no determination if the fire was arson, the police have three names they are investigating in relation to the fire. Johansen would not comment on how they believe the fire was set. 

The blaze, which started around 7 p.m. on April 13, quickly consumed the multi-family home and displaced its eight residents. No one was injured, but the house is destroyed.

Two families lived in the house, a couple with an 11-year-old, toddler and 10-day-old infant, and three men: a father, son and cousin. The Red Cross provided emergency lodging for the three men and helped the family with children, who had relatives to stay with, with immediate personal care needs, said  Carolyn C. Sherwin, Volunteer Spokesperson for the Red Cross.

“Most important. The house was almost next door to the Ambulance Corps, as soon as fire personnel, EMS & OEM arrived on scene, the mother and her three children were immediately taken to the Ambulance HQ,” said Sherwin. “They, especially the baby, were out of the onset of drizzle & away from the immediate mayhem of the fire.”

Buchanan and Mohegan Lake Fire Departments provided mutual aid for the Peekskill Fire Deptartment. Montrose, Continental Village and Verplanck FD were on call. There were a total of about 65 firefighters battling the large fire and they were able to control the fire within about one hour and keep it from spreading to surrounding buildings, Johansen said.

The fire caused some smoke damage at the house at 1407 Main Street but no one was hurt there either. The tenant in that building told Patch that his landlord said insurance will cover that damage. He and his family were not hurt.