At 10:23hrs on February 4th, Yorktown Heights FD was dispatched with our Firefighter Assist & Search Team (F.A.S.Team) for a dwelling fire on Orchard St in the City of Peekskill. Car 2533 and Rescue 16 responded with 6 Yorktown Heights Volunteer Firefighters as additional YHFD personnel remained in district. The City of Peekskill Fire Department and USVA- Montrose Federal Firefighters arrived to find advanced fire conditions on all floors from the rear of the structure. YHFD FAST arrived shortly after the first due companies and split into two crews to cover the front and rear of the structure. YHFD members threw multiple ground ladders, cleared windows and monitored fireground operations. Due to the labor intensive operation, a 2nd alarm was sounded, and at the request of command, YHFD FAST was put to work for firefighting duties. Upon arrival of the relief FAST from the Croton-on-Hudson Fire Department, their company officer was briefed on current conditions and operations. It was decided that 4 of the 6 YHFD Volunteers on scene would be going to work. 2 would remain as FAST to form a combined 6 man FASTeam with the CFD due to the size of the structure and number of companies operating. C-2533 was assigned “Division 3” and worked with YHFD R-16 and MFD TL-8 opening up and extinguishing pockets of fire throughout numerous void spaces on the 3rd floor and attic area. All YHFD units cleared the scene around 13:00hrs. (*Some Photos courtesy of Craig Stilwell/Peekskill Vac & Dave Kempter*)
