Photo Credits: Boomer T. Ryder, Robert Cox
EDITOR’S NOTE: We got to the scene after the fire was under control, if you have photos or video to share please contact robertcox@talkofthesound.com.
NEW ROCHELLE, NY — 6 people were injured, including 5 New Rochelle firefighters and 1 civilian, responding to a massive house fire at 231 East Boulevard. One firefighter suffered a broken arm. The civilian, a neighbor, was bitten by a dog. The injured firefighters were taken to Sound Shore Medical Center.
Calls began coming in around 4:45 p.m.
New Rochelle Fire Chief Louis DiMeglio told Talk of the Sound the department responded with every available man and piece of equipment and then put out a call for off-duty firefighters as well. The response ultimately grew to three-alarms with over 40 New Rochelle firefighters responded to the scene along with mutual aid provided by Yonkers, White Plains, Greenville and Hartsdale.
From New Rochelle Ladder 11, 12 and 13 and Engine 21, 22, 23, 24, and 25 along with Rescue vehicles and Chief and Deputy Chief vehicles were on hand. Yonkers brought vehicle.
EMT BRAVO reporting Units: On-Scene: NRFD E-21 22 23 24 25 17 18 TL-11 L-12 13 14 R-4 Cars-2301 2302 2306 YFD: E-312 L-72 B-2 Empress: 30-Alpha-1 30-Alpha-2 30-Alpha-3 NRPD Con Ed Electric and Gas United Water Bat-18. Stand-By/Covering City: White Plains E-71 L-34 Greenville E-150 Hartsdale TL-15 NRFD Car-2303.
The four departments covered the firehouses but after the New Rochelle men grew fatigued working the fire, DiMeglio brought in 10 Yonkers firefighters with a Ladder and Engine company along with a Deputy Chief.
“Our guys took a pretty heavy beating by the fire,” said DeMeglio. “It was very hot and smokey and labor intensive.”
DiMeglio said the fire started on the third floor. The house became engulfed in flame with fire pouring out of the top floor windows and the roof. The roof above the left side of the house collapsed and the fire began to self-ventilate.
Thick heavy smoke poured off the house, blowing west towards Hamilton Avenue, creating low visibility conditions as firefighters approached the scene from the direction of the New Rochelle Fire Department headquarters, just a few blocks away.
Firefighters initially fought the fire from within. Two crews went up to the third floor from inside the structure with hose lines. As the black smoke and fire intensified, the men were ordered out of the building and fought the fire from below and above using a ladder truck.
The roof of the house is covered in stucco tiles. As the flames rose, the tiles came loose, raining down on the firefighters below. Two of the injuries to firefighters were due to tiles falling and striking men on the head.
The fire was declared under control shortly before 7:00 p.m.
1649 Hrs: E-23 10-84 10-75.
1656 Hrs: Car 2302 Request 2nd Alarm.
1852 Hrs: Car 2302 Place Fire Under Control.
2026 Hrs: E-18 Remaining On-Scene For Fire Watch.
2241 Hrs: E-18 10-8.
Firefighters inspecting the house around 8:30 p.m. told Talk of the Sound the house was a complete loss with tremendous fire damage above and significant water damage on the first floor and the basement.
NRFD investigators will be on scene Saturday in an effort to determine the cause of the fire.
A neighbor said a family of six resided at the address, two parents and four children but that two of the children were grown and not living in the house. All in the house escaped the fire without injuries.
A neighbor who entered the structure during the fire to help clear several family pets from the home was bitten by the family dog. The injury was not serious.
For me fighters are real
For me fighters are real hero. The put their lives in danger to save things and lives.
New Rochelle Fire Department
I wish the injured fire fighters a speedy recovery.
All our fire fighters put their life on the line for us every day; we the people need to stand up agents these blood sucking politicians who want to cut there jobs.
Thank you New Rochelle Fire Department for your service.
Great job guys and get well.
Hopefully all our Firefighters get well. I think its disgraceful that our Fire Dept has been cut so deep that other cities have to respond to help with a house fire.It shows how hard these guys are asked to push themselves.I would almost bet the first Engine on the scene only had 3 men along with the first Ladder on scene.Its sure is nice equipment but without the proper amount of men on scene it is clearly obvious without manpower,all the equipment is practically useless.Thank God there was’nt another major emergency at the same time.I know there is alot of pride involved and to call other cities to help is demoralizing.It also says alot about the argument for more manpower and no cuts.Remember this incident,all our safety is at risk.Support our Fire Dept,let the Mayor and council know.We pay taxes,and the least we can get in return is protection and safety.
spot on
This was a 3 story house fire.
What’s going to happen with a major apartment fire on Pelham Road? Or any of these buildings over 7 stories.
The newer buildings like Avalon and Trump have more modern technology like sprinkler systems but still, the day is coming when the chickens will come home to roost and people are going to die. I would not want to be the one who kept voting to cut the fire department on that day.
Maybe the firefighters should
Maybe the firefighters should sue Bramson for cutting their staffing to the bone. Nothing like spending money on rich developers while the safety of the city is at stake.