| On Thursday December 26th at 02:47am in the early morning, The Rye Fire Department was dispatched to a reported chimney fire at 1 Clark Lane (off Forest Ave). The homeowner awoke in the middle of the night to find smoke coming from walls surrounding the chimney and promptly called 911. The homeowners without hesitation exited the house and awaited the arrival of firefighters.
Thankfully, Rye Firefighters arrived quickly and found smoke pouring out of the chimney. Firefighters entered the home to find a light haze of smoke on the first floor. When firefighters began to open up the walls on the first floor, they found flames shooting from the area around the chimney. Rye Fire Car 2421 (Chief Mike Taylor) then requested a “10-75” Working fire assignment, bringing additional manpower from The Harrison Fire Department and The Mamaroneck Town Fire Department to the scene. Harrison firefighters assisted with ventilation while Mamaroneck Town firefighters were requested to operate as a Firefighter Assist Search Team (F.A.S.T). Port Chester-Rye-Rye Brook Emergency Medical Services and The Rye Police Department were also requested to the scene.
Firefighters stretched two hose lines, one to the first floor and one to the second. Ground and aerial ladders were also used to access the roof and chimney. All visible fire was quickly knocked down and was contained to the first floor. Firefighters used Thermal Imaging Cameras (T.I.C.) to search for “hot spots” inside the walls. Fortunately, the fire did not extend to the second floor.
The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation. However, this type of emergency highlights the need for homeowners to have their chimneys professionally cleaned and inspected by a chimney sweep annually. The Rye Fire Department suggests that all homeowners have all of their chimneys cleaned and inspected by a licensed and insured chimney sweep annually. |
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