| Due to the difficult nature of this incident some information is withheld - We must choose to highlight the performance of so many despite the tragic outcome.
This fire escalated to over a third alarm with units from all over Westchester, Putnam and Connecticut.
On April 16th at 1250Hrs, the South Salem Fire Department and Vista Fire Department were dispatched to a reported house fire with multiple people trapped. While responding SSFD chiefs upgraded the alarm adding YHFD FASTeam to the assignment.
YHFD Cars 2532, 2533, Rescue 16 and U-83 responded. First arriving units were met advanced fire conditions and multiple civilians with injuries. Multiple FD and PD members began treating injured patients as well as simalteniously initiating a search for the trapped occupants. Rapidly changing fire conditions lead to multiple FD and PD members sustaining thermal burns and smoke inhalation. SSFD IC rapidly requested additional FD and EMS assets to the scene.
With additional mutual aid units arriving, a search of multiple floors was initiated supported by hoselines suppressing advanced fire conditions in the basement and first floor. At this stage of the operation units from SSFD, VFD, Katonah Fire Department, Bedford Hills Fire Department and YHFD were all engaged in either fire attack or search operations.
As conditions worsened, multiple maydays were transmitted due to advancing fire and weakening structural components. Crews searching the interior located a trapped civilian. The civilian was removed via a portable ladder from the structure by multiple agencies. EMS provided rapid ALS care and transport. A second victim was located a short time later as searches continued. After multiple valiant attempts to knocked down the fire, units switched to a defensive operation.
Additional information maybe available in the future. The YHFD offers our thoughts and support to the family affected as well as the MOS recovering in the hospital. And the entire Lewisboro community as they cope with this tragedy.
**Please note: Some photos are courtesy of Frank Becerra Jr./The Journal News** |
