NEW ROCHELLE, NY (April 9, 2022) — After an extensive and thorough examination of the fire scene at 2 Hamilton Avenue it has been determined that the March 31 fire was accidental in nature and is not deemed suspicious. The fire began in the basement and appears to be electrical in nature.
CCTV video from a nearby building shows smoke coming out of the building at about 4 a.m.
The exact cause of the electrical malfunction is something that will be determined through an insurance company investigation.
The investigation was delayed due to extensive flooding in the basement. It took a pump truck several days to remove many thousands of gallons of water from the basement. The pump truck completed its work on Thursday.
Judith Musameci, 60, of New Rochelle, NY died Thursday of apparent smoke inhalation, according to New Rochelle Police. Musameci was the building superintendent. She lived in a second floor apartment towards the back of the building.
Obituary Judith M. Musumeci, of New Rochelle, tragically passed away on March 31, 2022, at age 60. She was born March 8, 1962 to Eleuterio & Angelina Fava. Judith received her bachelors degree at Iona University and a certificate from Katherine Gibbs. She worked as a secretary and administrative assistant for a number of companies including Moran Towing, Bunge, Westchester Country Club and, most recently, Pepsico. She had a deep love for all animals, especially cats. She and her late husband adopted a number of cats and found homes for many more working with local agencies and friends. Judith is predeceased by her beloved husband, Joseph Musumeci. She is survived by her loving siblings, Larry Fava and Carol Tarascio, and nephew and niece, Paul Tarascio and Rachel Tarascio Yee. To honor Judith’s life, family and friends will gather on Thursday 4-8pm at Coxe & Graziano Funeral Home 767 E. Boston Post Rd Mamaroneck. Funeral Service Friday 11am at St. John’s Lutheran Church followed by interment at Greenwood Union Cemetery. Memorial donations can be sent to; Forgotten Feline PO Box 430 Valhalla, NY 10595.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to pay for funeral and burial expenses.
New Rochelle firefighters were called to the scene at about 6:30 a.m. that morning. Flames were through the roof with heavy smoke at time of arrival. The fire started on the north side of the building. It got into the cockloft and spread across the entire top of the building. The roof caved in. HVAC units fell through onto the second floor.
The building had been slated for development by adding four floors to the existing building as a 6-story mixed use development with 56 residential rental units, ground floor retail space on North Avenue and off-site parking at a nearby location.
The New Rochelle Fire Department Fire Investigation Unit would like to thank the following agencies for their support in helping to determine the cause and origin of the March 31 fatal fire at 2 Hamilton Avenue in New Rochelle: New Rochelle Police Department Investigations, Yonkers Fire Department Investigations, Yonkers Police Department Investigations, and the Westchester County Police K-9 Investigation Unit. The assistance from all of these units began the day of the fire and continues as the investigation moves towards its conclusion.
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