Yonkers 4th alarm fire 4/17/06

[Guest DFFD227]

Just got home from that multi-alarm, good stop by YFD. It was a 12 story brick highrise. Apparently it was an incinerator fire, which caused heavy smoke through out the building. Multiple people reported trapped, and out windows/balconies. Here are a few shots I got...nothing spectacular, but just an idea of what the scene looked like.

[Guest]

Nice pics, DFD227!!

Officials: Leaking gas exploded in Yonkers high-rise fire

By WILL DAVID

THE JOURNAL NEWS

(Original Publication: April 18, 2006)

YONKERS — An explosion on the upper floors of the sprawling 12-story Whitney Young apartment complex apparently was caused by a smoldering fire in a trash compactor shaft that ignited a leaking gas line in the adjacent apartment walls, the Yonkers fire commissioner said today.

The three-alarm fire and subsequent explosion last night sent heavy smoke pouring through the 120-unit building.

Fire Commissioner Anthony Pagano said the fire was ruled accidental.

Pagano said it appears that the fire was caused by smoldering combustible garbage that ignited with a nearby leaking gas like and exploded.

"It caused a flash fire," Pagano said.

Yonkers fire investigators and police detectives determine that the blaze was not intentionally set, Pagano said.

They could not determine just what was put in the compactor to trigger the fire.

Six firefighters and about 12 residents were treated for injuries including smoke inhalation. No one was seriously injured.

Walls in apartments on three floors adjacent to the trash compactor were blown out allowing the smoke to fill up the building.

"The smoke was unbelievable, I've never seen that much smoke from an incinerator fire," Yonkers Assistant Fire Chief Augustine Nigro said.

Dozens of Yonkers firefighters were called to the 358 Nepperhan Ave. fire at 10:56 last night.

When they arrived, people were on balconies calling for help. Smoke was racing through the building and the incinerator was burning.

Firefighters had to lead people through the smoky building.

Other tenants were told to stay in their apartments and firefighters had to made forced entry into others to check for people.

In addition, firefighters pinpointed where the fire was coming from and put it out.

"The toughest part was getting all of the manpower and equipment in place," said Nigro who orchestrated the firefighting efforts last night.

All that was accomplished in a half hour.

"It could have been worse," Nigro said.

Some people on the higher floors were not being allowed back into the building, but others were able to stay. Gas was cut off in the building for safety.

"It was a very interesting night," Nigro said.

READ MORE ABOUT THIS STORY TOMORROW IN THE JOURNAL NEWS.

[Dr. Zuki 1]

FYI to all Yonkers emergency responders:

358 Nepperhan Avenue and all of the other privately owned-government subsidized apartment buildings were built with dangerous aluminum wiring allowed because the fire codes don't apply to quasi-government agencies, in this case, it was the former NY State Urban Development Corporation in the early 1970's.

Same situation exists with the Port Authority that built the World Trade Center under it's own building and fire codes.

[Guest]

Nice Shots George! What kind of camera are you using, the flash works great on yours, Mine always comes out a little darker that than that at night.

[Guest]

George, did they say if that was what caused it when you were at the Yonkers scene.

[Guest DFFD227]

I use a digital rebel, with standard flash. I heard some people talking on scene that it was fire in the incinerator.

[Oswegowind 17]

This was a 3rd alarm incident with mutual aid called to cover...Original assignment went to a high rise assignment (10-31) add 2 engines with the standard 31 ladder company and then a 3rd alarm.

3rd battalion was also called in to cover

just as joe #86 predicted...by monday we would call in battalion 3.

thought we were gonna get there sunday night, but they put a good stop in and we only got to 2 alarms...