Mount Vernon Apartment Building Fire: Crews Battle Blaze for Hours

Overnight Fire in Mount Vernon

• 🚒 Emergency crews responded to a large fire at an apartment building in Mount Vernon, Westchester County, overnight.
• ⏰ Firefighters have been on the scene for over six hours battling the blaze.
• 🏠 The Red Cross is assisting families who have lost their homes and belongings.

Building Structure and Fire Spread

• 🧱 The fire is complex, affecting an estimated four attached buildings spanning the length of a block between Cottage Avenue and Park Avenue.
• ⚠️ A significant challenge is a section of the building known as a "cork loft", an older structural element between the ceiling and roof, which allows fire to spread rapidly.
• 📈 This structural feature is why the fire has been difficult to extinguish, with flames continuing to emerge from the roof.

Fire Origin and Response

• 🔥 The fire reportedly originated in the kitchen on the seventh floor of one section of the building.
• 🚨 It escalated into an inferno, requiring a four-alarm response, involving 50 to 75 firefighters and support from surrounding areas.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 A man shared his experience of evacuating 11 family members from the second and third floors, highlighting the urgency of the situation.

Rescues and Impact

• 💔 A mother and daughter were rescued from the building.
• ✅ Fortunately, several hundred residents were able to evacuate safely.
• 😔 The fire occurs just days before Thanksgiving, leaving many residents displaced and seeking alternative accommodations.