A week after two teenage siblings died in a Cortlandt Manor fire, a 15-year-old boy died in a fire at 115 High St. in the City of Peekskill on Wednesday, June 4. The victim was one of the Peekskill City School District’s out-of-district students. “We ask that everyone respect the family’s privacy as they grieve,” said Peekskill City School District Superintendent Dr. David Mauricio in a June 4 statement, which can be read in its entirety HERE.
In a press release, the Peekskill Fire Department said it was dispatched at 6:04 p.m. to a report of a structure fire with entrapment at 115 High Street, within one-half mile of the fire station. Department units arrived on the scene within two minutes of the alarm. The first arriving units encountered heavy fire conditions in a multi-family dwelling.
Based on initial reports of trapped occupants in the building, firefighters conducted a rapid primary search of the building and located an unconscious occupant on the second floor. Firefighters were able to remove the victim from the building and CPR was immediately initiated.
The unconscious occupant was transported by EMS to New York Presbyterian-Hudson Valley Hospital. Shortly after arriving at the hospital, the occupant succumbed to his injuries, the department announced at 12:05 a.m. on Thursday, June 4.
The cause of the fire is under investigation in cooperation with the Westchester County Cause & Origin Team and the City of Peekskill Police Department. Additional details will be released as available.
In a phone call, Chief James Seymour IV told the Peekskill Herald the fire started in the second floor bedroom, but the cause is still under investigation.
“I can tell you, talk to the crew that was working last night, they, based on the dispatch, expected to see smoke when they pulled out and did not until they were coming down the block, which tells me they got there pretty early on,” Seymour said. “But I do also know talking to people afterwards that it went from basically, I’ll give you this analogy, from zero to 60 in the blink of an eye. The fire just took off very rapidly at one point.”
Asked about the initial report of multiple trapped occupants, Seymour said he was not sure why it came in as multiple people.
“Maybe just whoever called thought there were multiple people, and maybe there were at one point as people were still evacuating, I’m not really sure,” Seymour said. “But when we got there, it was just one person.”
In a statement, American Red Cross in Greater New York regional communications manager Frederic Klein said the fire resulted in three people being registered for emergency assistance.
“Our hearts go out to the friends, family and neighbors of those impacted by the fire on High Street in Peekskill,” Klein said. “After this fire, the American Red Cross registered three people for emergency assistance such as financial aid and other recovery support.”
He added, “Our casework team will follow up with this family in coming days to help provide additional disaster care services and identify recovery roadblocks, and to connect them with government and/or community partners for longer-term recovery resources.”
In an email, Police Chief Adam Renwick said the investigation remains ongoing and the department is unable to comment on the cause of the fire.
“I can confirm that the deceased was a 15-year-old resident of the home,” Renwick said. “Out of respect for the family and the ongoing investigation, no further information will be released at this time.”
The fire follows the tragic loss of 17-year-old Alina Toone and her 15-year-old sibling Jeremiah Toone, Putnam Valley High School students who died in a Cortlandt Manor house fire on Wednesday, May 27.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information is made available.
