| On Monday, February 25, 2008 at 5:04 PM, the Purchase Fire Department was dispatched to a report of smoke in the building at 2975 Westchester Avenue. Responding units were notified by 60 Control of several reports of power loss and a stuck occupied elevator in the building. Car 2411, Engine 238 and Tower Ladder 53 observed smoke showing from the D Side of the structure upon arrival. Initial reports by building management stated that there was fire in the Meter Room. Units were dispatched to the building an hour earlier for a commercial alarm, but the investigation turned up negative as there were no apparent hazards present at the time. The alarm malfunction was later determined to have been caused by a power surge, part of the initial series of events leading up to the fire.
Once the source of the fire was located, Con Ed Electric was requested to the scene to shut off power to the building due to the inability to suppress the fire. One occupant was removed from the elevator and treated for smoke inhalation by Harrison EMS. Engine 240 arrived and established a secondary water source on Webb Avenue while Rescue 30 staged at the B Side of the structure to provide tools and personnel.
Crews stretched 300' of 1 3/4" hose to the D Side of the structure while additional members made searches of the building to ensure that all employees had safely exited. Once Con Ed Electric confirmed that the power was shut off, members entered the Meter Room and determined that the fire had not extended beyond the fire resistant walls.
Positive pressure ventilation fans were set up in the lobby entrance and bulkhead doors were opened on the roof to alleviate the smoke condition. All units returned in service at 7:15 PM. The Purchase Fire Department offers a special thanks to our neighbors, the West Harrison Fire Department, for standing by in our quarters during the incident. |
