PORT CHESTER, NY (March 4, 2023) — A quick-thinking Port Chester Police Officer smelled smoke, located the source and evacuated residents of a house while calling the Port Chester Fire Department. A subsequent investigation determined that rags on the second floor spontaneously combusted.
Police narrative: On Friday afternoon, around 1:44 pm, Port Chester Fire was dispatched to an address on Olivia Street for a reported Structure Fire.
A Port Chester Police Officer, who smelled smoke while on patrol, drove around the area and eventually spotted the smoke coming from the 2nd floor of the house. The officer was able to evacuate residents and call the fire department for assistance.
Upon arrival, Port Chester Firefighters made their way to the 2nd floor where they found a pile of rags on fire in the house, it was quickly extinguished and contained to the room of origin before it got out of control.
The cause of the fire was investigated by the Westchester County Cause & Origin Team, which determined the floors in the residence had just been completed and used rags were left on the floor in a pile and spontaneous combustion was the cause of the fire.