Mt. Pleasant House Fire Under Investigation

Updated, Friday 12:10 a.m.

The cause of the 235 Lake Shore Dr. fire Thursday evening remains under investigation, according to Pleasantville Fire Department Chief Manny Colmenares.

"Multiple calls came in" reporting the fire at approximately 6:55 p.m. Thursday, Colmenares shared. He said neighbors witnessed the fire, though he does not believe residents of the single-family home were inside at the time.

While one 911 caller reportedly said an aircraft hit the building, Colmenares denied that theory and said there was no evidence at the scene to back it up.

"The fire was on the lefthand side of the building," he said. "When I pulled up, the deck was fully involved."

Colmenares estimates the flames were put out within about 25 to 30 minutes after fire departments began arriving.

Local fire departments, along with Westchester County investigators, were examining the home in and outside as late as midnight Friday. A county canine was also on-scene.

The house now "is not habitable," Colmenares said. "They are not going to be able to spend the night there."

As far as the home's damage—"We had a roof collapse, the first floor collapsed, the basement is definitely flooded out and the roof from one end to the other has also been compromised," the Chief said.

It appeared just the two-car garage on the lower righthand side of the home was unaffected by the fire and subsequent deluge of water from the departments' hoses.

According to county investigators' preliminary reports, it is "undetermined" if the fire's origin is suspicious, Colmenares said.

While it is not yet known how the fire started, Colmenares said it likely began outside the home.

"The county is here, they are still doing their investigation," he said.

Updated, 11:24 p.m.

The Pleasantville Fire Department is the only one left on site. Damage assessment is being done while a hose is being used in the back of the residence.

Updated, 8 p.m.

Firefighters continued to operate the hoseline to the blaze as of 7:45 p.m. The fire weakened the home's structure and much of the roof collapsed.

By 8 p.m., most of the flames were extinguished and firefighters were able to approach the front door.  

First story:

A home in Mount Pleasant became fully engulfed in a fire on Thursday evening, with firefighters from several communities battling it.

The structure is located at 235 Lake Shore Drive, just outside of the Village of Pleasantville and close to downtown Chappaqua. 

Firefighters came to the scene from Pleasantville, Chappaqua, Thornwood, Valhalla, Sleepy Hollow and Millwood. Mount Pleasant police, the Pleasantville Volunteer Ambulance Corps and Con Edison are also on scene.

Briarcliff Manor Fire Department is on stand-by at Pleasantville FD headquarters.

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