Fire in Cortlandt Manor Destroys House and Causes Heat Exhaustion to Four Firefighters

A fire that started in the area of the washing machine of a two-story house at 36 Montrose Station Road in Cortlandt Manor destroyed the house and caused four firefighters to suffer from heat exhaustion today.

The call came in at 1:18 p.m. after someone saw the flames. Officials said the fire was going on for at least an hour before it blew out of the house. The fire was so involved when crews came to the scene, that firefighters had to battle the fire from outside.

The two-story, 12-room, single-family house sits on a secluded site at the end of a long dirt driveway. Only one engine was able to get close to the house, and firefighters had to attach a 1,500-feet hose to a fire hydrant to fight the flames.

Firefighters were also battling the hot weather.

"These conditions are horrible," said Adam Ceriato, second assistant chief for the Lake Mohegan Fire Department. "You have to constantly hydrate [the firefighters.]"

There were 65 firefighters at the scene, Mayer said.

Other fire departments assisting Lake Mohegan were Peekskill, Yorktown Heights, Buchanan, and Somers. Mahopac Fire Department was on standby, and Continental Village was covering LMFD headquarters, Mayer said.

Four firefighters, including the Lake Mohegan Fire Chief and Peekskill Fire Chief went down for heat exhaustion.

"We were working so hard," Mayer said. "It overtakes you."

They were pulled in rehab by units from Somers and placed in air-conditioned vehicles to rest. Emergency personnel brought wet towels to cool off firefighters and gave them plenty of water.

Ceriato said the flames could be seen from Route 6. The fire was charging in the washer room for about an hour, then it made its way out of the room, and went out to both sides of the house, and looped around the steps. It then blew out of the house and the pine trees went in flames.  

The whole backyard and trees were on fire, which caused concern to officials because the house is near the Blue Mountain Reservation, first assistant fire chief Brian Wolert said.

Con Ed was also on the scene and isolated the wires on the property.

The owner was not home at the time of the fire. He was fishing, officials said. 

The fire has been ruled out accidental, officials said. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

The house is inhabitable. The total damages are estimated between $300,000 and $500,000.