Red Cross reports Lower Hudson Valley families displaced in recent fires

Alexandra Rivera, Rockland/Westchester Journal News
·2 min read

Several families were displaced after fires destroyed residences in the Lower Hudson Valley over the weekend.

The American Red Cross of Greater New York said it responded to five fires in Westchester and Rockland counties from Jan. 31 to Feb. 4., leaving 47 residents without homes.

  • A fire broke out on Jan. 24 at a house near Hanover Street and Harwood Place in Yorktown Heights. Yorktown Heights Fire Department said the fire started on the second floor of the home and spread to the chimney. While the fire only took 15 minutes to put out, the fire department said officials were on the scene for around four hours to make sure the fire was fully out. The fire left seven people displaced, according to the Red Cross.

  • A few days later, a fire broke out on Feb. 1 at around 6:45 p.m. at a house on 220 South 10th St. in Mount Vernon. The Mount Vernon Fire Department said the fire started in the basement of the house and was bringing smoke up the vents to the first floor. Firefighters said the incident was an accidental electrical fire, caused by an error in an outdoor electrical transmitter. The basement of the house was destroyed and the upper floors sustained smoke damage. Eight people were displaced from the house, according to the Red Cross.

  • In Rockland, a fire broke out in the kitchen of a second-floor apartment art 130 W. Eckerson Road in Spring Valley around 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 3. The fire spread to multiple units and left three families, a total of eight people, displaced. Some residents, including a baby, were trapped inside but Spring Valley Fire Department said were all removed safely.

  • A fire on Feb. 4 at a multi-family house on 1017 Orchard St. in Peekskill left 14 people displaced. According to the Peekskill Fire Department, the fire broke out around 10:15 a.m. in the back of the house and spread to all three floors, from the basement to the roof. Firefighters said they were on the scene for over two hours trying to control the fire. The house was destroyed and the cause of the fire has not yet been determined.

  • Another fire the same day at a home at 23 Hall Ave. in White Plains left 10 people displaced. White Plains Fire Department said the fire started in the basement of the home around 5:30 p.m. and spread to the first and second floor of the home. The Fire Department said no injuries were reported.

The Red Cross Metro New York Disaster Action Team said it provided emergency assistance to all families displaced by the fires and case workers are continuing to help them find new homes.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Lower Hudson Valley NY families displaced by fire, aided by Red Cross