The following includes updates to a story originally posted at 8:30 this morning.
The Tarrytown Fire Department, along with units from Sleepy Hollow, Irvington and Elmsford, extinguished a fire this morning in a four-family building at 49 Windle Park.
Starting around 6 a.m., a fire on the porch extended to the walls, forcing families to evacuate into the cold early morning. Resident Dana Lovino made the emergency 911 call.
One Tarrytown firefighter, Robert Hoyt, Jr., was sent to Phelps Memorial Hospital when part of the ceiling collapsed on him as he was battling the blaze. Phelps reported at 2:45 p.m. that he had been treated and released.
A toddler, Frankie Cuiffo, born in 2010, was checked by paramedics at the scene for smoke inhalation but was determined to be fine; his family refused further medical assistance.
The Westchester County cause of origin team is at the scene investigating the cause of the fire, though Tarrytown Fire Chief John McGee did not believe there were any grounds for suspicion.
Families have not been allowed to reenter the premises. There is no sign of fire damage from outside the large white building at the corner of Franklin Street.
By 8:30 a.m., the scene was quiet as fire crews were packing up their hoses and clearing the scene; water running down the street from the hoses was salted to prevent freezing hazards.
Red Cross volunteers arrived around 9 a.m. and were meeting with three families affected, eight people total, at a reception center that was set up by the Tarrytown Fire Department to get everyone inside, warm and in a "stress-free environment," said Carolyn Sherwin of the Red Cross.
"We will be doing an initial assessment to determine the families' needs, which could include emergency lodging and assistance for basic emergency needs, such as clothing, food and storage containers," said Sherwin. "We are working closely with the police and fire department to get everyone helped."
Red Cross media relations manager Michael de Vulpillieres reported at 1:40 p.m. that of four households affected by this fire, the Red Cross had met with three of them (two couples and one individual).
"All three received emergency funds for basic necessities like food and clothing," de Vulpillieres said. "In terms of emergency housing, one couple is staying with family. The Red Cross is providing the other two households with emergency lodging. We have not yet been in contact with the fourth household but they are aware of Red Cross services."
Patch will update as more information comes in.
