A Christmas Eve fire in the Town of Southeast caused extensive damage to a house, leaving a family of five without a home, one family member with minor burns, and one pet needing oxygen.
According to the Brewster Fire Department, shortly after 6 p.m. Dec. 24, firefighters were dispatched to 414 North Salem Road for a residential structure fire. The first volunteers arrived in 6 minutes and found a well-involved house fire approximately 500 feet from the road.
According to Second Assistant Chief Andrew McMurray, the family was able to self-evacuate prior to the fire department’s arrival, with one family member suffering minor burns. In addition, firefighters were able to rescue two family cats, and one was given oxygen at the scene.
However, the home and contents suffered considerable damage.
Carmel, Croton Falls, Goldens Bridge and Danbury fire departments assisted at the scene.
Approximately 40 firefighters made an aggressive interior attack on the flames but were driven back by deteriorating conditions. The lack of nearby fire hydrants required water to be transported by tankers, adding to the complexity of the operation.
The Putnam County Fire Investigation Team is working to determine the cause of the fire.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to support the family, at www.gofundme.com/f/evas-family-needs-our-help-this-christmas.
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