Overnight Apartment Fire Near Main Street Sends 13 To Hospital

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — An overnight fire downtown sent more than a dozen residents to the hospital and displaced families in five units.

The fire at 75 Centre Avenue was first reported just after 2 a.m. Saturday.

New Rochelle Fire Chief Andy Sandor said heavy smoke was already coming from the first floor of the multi-story building when firefighters arrived. Several residents were at their windows in the front of the building and on fire escapes while flames were found coming out of windows in the back left corner apartment of the building, according to the chief.

Firefighters rescued several of the residents via the fire escapes. Meanwhile, rescue crews also brought down other victims using the bucket of the Tower Ladder truck. All of the building's tenants were safely evacuated. Thirteen residents were taken to area hospitals.

No firefighters were injured during the dramatic rescue or while bringing the blaze under control.

"We are extremely grateful that all of the residents were able to be safely evacuated," Sandor said in a statement. "Motivated, aggressive training is what keeps our members ready and effective in moments like this. We were also fortunate to have Empress EMS Supervisors and mutual-aid ambulances on scene to assist in managing patient transport to several hospitals."

The Red Cross arrived at the scene of the high-rise fire to offer temporary housing assistance to displaced families. Fire officials say there are a total of 19 apartments in the building with five of the units unfit for families to return to at this time.

Neighboring fire departments, including Yonkers, Eastchester and Greenville provided coverage for any other calls in the city while the entire New Rochelle on-duty force of 31 firefighters was occupied with the massive rescue efforts on Centre Avenue.

Sandor says the cause of the early morning blaze remains under investigation.

Sandor credits both the training and professionalism of the crews involved, as well as fire safety equipment and early warning devices at the building, with helping to avert a potentially tragic outcome.

"Regardless of the time year, warm weather or cold, wet weather or dry, fire safety never goes out of style," Sandor said. "Remember to make sure you have working smoke detectors in your apartment, and a current, valid escape plan that everyone in your household knows. As we all saw this morning, it could save lives.”