Somers FD Incident #: 20-1583

At 6:58am on Thursday August 6th, 2020 the SVFD was dispatched to 7 Eastern Way in the Lake Purdy’s section of town for a reported structure fire. Chief of Department Car 2441 arrived 7 minutes later and reported smoke showing from a residential house and requested the 10-75 assignment (working structure fire) be dispatched. Shortly after car 2443, Ladder 48 and Engine 180 arrived. Crews quickly began stretching an attack line and forcing entry into the house. Immediately crews were met with heavy smoke and heat. A hose line was advanced through the front door where crews were met with heavy fire coming from the basement. The fire had already burnt through the first floor which created a hazard for firefighters. Firefighters quickly conducted a search for victims and found none as the house was unoccupied at the time of the fire. A second hose line was stretched while ventilation was underway, and the fire was quickly brought under control. As there is no municipal water or fire hydrants in this area of town a water source was established at Lake Purdy’s and tankers from neighboring departments were requested to help shuttle water to the fire scene. During the fire one Somers firefighter was transported by Somers EMS to a local hospital for heat related injuries. This structure fire occurred during the height of the power outages in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Isaias where the Somers FD had been responding to calls for service for almost 48 hours straight. Units cleared the scene at 10:18am.

The Westchester County Cause and Origin Team was requested to investigate the fire and it was deemed to be accidental and electrical in nature. The Town of Somers Building Department was also on scene to assist. Somers Firefighters were assisted on scene by Croton Falls Fire Department, Bedford Hills Fire Department, Mahopac Fire Department, Goldens Bridge Fire Department, Westchester EMS, and Westchester County DES Battalion 16. During the fire Katonah and Yorktown Fire Departments relocated to Somers Fire Headquarters to cover any additional calls in the Somers Fire District.