NEW ROCHELLE, NY (February 2, 2024) — The New Rochelle Fire Department responded to an emergency call at 3:16 am on Friday, reporting a fire in an apartment at 590 Fifth Avenue, Parkside Place. Upon arrival, NRFD units made a quick assessment and noticed smoke in the southeast corner of the building coming from the third floor. Firefighters entered through the lobby and arrived at the apartment door, and began fire suppression and searches. During the search the lone tenant was discovered unconscious. Crews brought him into the hallway, began CPR, and transported him downstairs to an ambulance waiting at the front door. He was transported to Montefiore New Rochelle Hospital where he was pronounced deceased. The victim was identified as Damien Peart, 45 years old.
Fire Chief Andrew Sandor said the cause was believed to not be suspicious; and that investigators could not rule out smoking, or an electrical issue within the apartment. The fire was contained to a single apartment and was extinguished in less than 30 minutes. The building’s construction of concrete and steel helped prevent the fire from spreading beyond the area of origin, the Chief noted, but some water and smoke damage to adjoining apartments was incurred.