NEW ROCHELLE, NY (October 16, 2022) — An electrical fire that investigators believe started in a ceiling fan spread into the cluttered attic of a multi-family house on a dead end street in the South End not far from Pizzeria La Rosa.
Residents self-evacuated. There was no report of injuries to civilians or firefighters.
The New Rochelle Fire Department responded to a report by New Rochelle Police Department of smoke coming through the roof at 21 Villus Avenue shortly before 8:00 am.
The streets in that area — Villus and Russell Avenue are narrow and extremely difficult to navigate in a car let alone a fire truck. The nearest fire truck was parked a block away on Russell Avenue.
A New Rochelle Building official was on scene to evaluate the structure. The ceiling is down on the third floor and the residents cannot stay in the house.
The property owner arrived on scene about an hour after the first report of smoke.
A fire inspector from Yonkers Fire Department was on scene. He inspected the third floor and attic then interviewed residents who told him they saw smoke and flames coming out a ceiling fan on the third floor. The attic was cluttered, what was described as a “hoarding situation”.
