Rye Firefighters Quickly Extinguish Roof Blaze at Commercial Building

RYE, NY (January 30, 2026) — Firefighters from the City of Rye Fire Department extinguished a small roof fire at a commercial building on Purchase Street on Tuesday afternoon, limiting damage through a rapid response and mutual aid support.

SEE: Rye FD Swiftly Extinguishes Roof Fire at Aurora Restaurant

At approximately 4:02 p.m. on January 28, 2026, the department was dispatched to 60 Purchase Street for a report of smoke inside a commercial structure. First-arriving units reached the scene in under sixty seconds and found both businesses safely evacuated.

Crews located a small fire on the roof at the rear of the building. An aerial ladder was positioned at the front of the structure, while ground ladders were deployed to the rear for access. Firefighters opened and removed sections of roofing materials to reach the fire, extinguished all visible flames and checked for extension.

The incident was brought under control quickly, resulting in minimal damage.

The Rye Police Department assisted by securing the scene, shutting down a section of roadway and managing traffic. Auto-aid departments from Larchmont and Rye Brook responded to check adjacent structures for extension and secure a positive water supply. Additional resources from the Harrison and Purchase Fire Departments were relocated to Rye Fire Headquarters to provide coverage for additional calls and remain readily available if needed.

The Westchester County Cause and Origin Team investigated the incident and determined the fire was accidental, originating from an attempt to remove ice from the roof and gutter area.

All units returned to service by 5:35 p.m.

The City of Rye Fire Department credited proper notification, a rapid response and strong inter-agency coordination for the successful outcome.

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.