Wednesday, April 27, 2005
Blaze destroys yeshiva building
As many as 150 firefighters from Mount Kisco and surrounding
departments spent half a day battling a blaze at a New Castle yeshiva
yesterday, only to return hours later after remnants of the fire
flared up again.
No residents or firefighters were injured in the 2:10 a.m. fire at
Yeshiva Farms Settlement School off Pines Bridge Road. However, a
large two-story structure on the multi-acre compound was completely
leveled. As firefighters sprayed the building's charred remains, only
a tall brick fireplace at the far end of the building was left
standing.
Mount Kisco Assistant Fire Chief Richard Hardy said the structure was
a residence that also was used for storage and food preparation.
"The biggest problem we had was all this caving in," Hardy said,
gesturing to the wreckage around 6:45 last night, nearly two hours
after returning to the scene. "We couldn't pull (the building's
contents) out. We soaked it the best we could. Hopefully, we won't
have to come back again."
The fire comes at a particularly significant time for the Hasidic
enclave, where the property overlooks the New Croton Reservoir.
Passover began at sundown yesterday. Dozens of residents watched as
firefighters tended to the scene, but they declined to comment on the
fire.
Departments from Millwood, Bedford Hills, Armonk, Katonah and
Yorktown assisted in battling the blaze, while Ossining, Chappaqua
and Goldens Bridge were on standby.
Hardy said the balloon construction of the building and the
significant amount of materials inside made the fire difficult to
fight. Given those factors, he added, the time it took to fight the
fire and the fact that it flared up again weren't surprising.
There was little hope of saving the building, though.
"When you come on the scene and it's fully involved like this, you're
fighting an uphill battle," said Hardy.
The fact that no one was hurt in the blaze was of some satisfaction
to firefighters and residents.
"When we pulled up, that was our first question," third Assistant
Chief Michael Boles said. "Is everyone out? Is everyone safe?"
The Westchester County Cause and Origin Team ruled the fire
accidental, but the cause remains undetermined.
As many as 150 firefighters from Mount Kisco and surrounding
departments spent half a day battling a blaze at a New Castle yeshiva
yesterday, only to return hours later after remnants of the fire
flared up again.
No residents or firefighters were injured in the 2:10 a.m. fire at
Yeshiva Farms Settlement School off Pines Bridge Road. However, a
large two-story structure on the multi-acre compound was completely
leveled. As firefighters sprayed the building's charred remains, only
a tall brick fireplace at the far end of the building was left
standing.
Mount Kisco Assistant Fire Chief Richard Hardy said the structure was
a residence that also was used for storage and food preparation.
"The biggest problem we had was all this caving in," Hardy said,
gesturing to the wreckage around 6:45 last night, nearly two hours
after returning to the scene. "We couldn't pull (the building's
contents) out. We soaked it the best we could. Hopefully, we won't
have to come back again."
The fire comes at a particularly significant time for the Hasidic
enclave, where the property overlooks the New Croton Reservoir.
Passover began at sundown yesterday. Dozens of residents watched as
firefighters tended to the scene, but they declined to comment on the
fire.
Departments from Millwood, Bedford Hills, Armonk, Katonah and
Yorktown assisted in battling the blaze, while Ossining, Chappaqua
and Goldens Bridge were on standby.
Hardy said the balloon construction of the building and the
significant amount of materials inside made the fire difficult to
fight. Given those factors, he added, the time it took to fight the
fire and the fact that it flared up again weren't surprising.
There was little hope of saving the building, though.
"When you come on the scene and it's fully involved like this, you're
fighting an uphill battle," said Hardy.
The fact that no one was hurt in the blaze was of some satisfaction
to firefighters and residents.
"When we pulled up, that was our first question," third Assistant
Chief Michael Boles said. "Is everyone out? Is everyone safe?"
The Westchester County Cause and Origin Team ruled the fire
accidental, but the cause remains undetermined.
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