RYE, NY (December 25, 2025) — An unattended candle caused a fire in a Rye residence on Dec. 21, leading to significant smoke damage and the destruction of several Christmas gifts, officials said.
The City of Rye Fire Department responded to an automatic residential fire alarm at 5:22 p.m. at 19 Douglas Circle in the Greenhaven section of Rye.
Upon arrival, firefighters saw flames inside the house through the front picture window. They forced entry and encountered heavy smoke in the front hallway.
The fire, located on the first floor, was extinguished quickly by the initial entry team. Firefighters searched the home and found no occupants; all residents were confirmed to be out of the house.
Although the home sustained a significant amount of smoke damage and several Christmas gifts were destroyed, there was no other fire damage to the house.
The Westchester County Cause and Origin Team determined that the fire was caused by an unattended candle.
If not for working smoke detectors, an alarm system, and a quick response the fire would likely have spread to the nearby Christmas tree and the rest of the home, causing a much larger amount of damage.
The Rye Fire Department was assisted on scene by the Rye Brook Fire Department, the Larchmont Fire Department, the Westchester County Cause and Origin Team and the Rye Police Department.
There were no reported injuries at the scene, and the house was turned over to the homeowner at 6:42 p.m.
This article was drafted with the aid of Grok, an AI tool by xAI, under the direction and editing of Robert Cox to ensure accuracy and adherence to journalistic standards.
I can’t believe someone would leave the house with a lit candle inside. How irresponsible. Luckily it didn’t spread to someone else’s home and kill someone. SMH!