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Westchester County Department of Emergency Services

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Battery Storage Facilities: Proposed Law Aims To Help Stop 'Explosive Fires' In Westchester Battery Storage Facilities: Proposed Law Aims To Help Stop 'Explosive Fires' In Westchester
Battery Storage Facilities: Proposed Law Aims To Help Stop 'Explosive Fires' In Westchester Westchester is taking a proactive step to ensure the safety of battery energy storage facilities with a proposed notification law, officials announced. The law, announced by County Executive Ken Jenkins at the Department of Emergency Services in Valhalla on Wednesday, Jan. 15, outlines notification requirements for municipalities to report new or modified battery energy storage facilities to the county.   This would allow the county to maintain up-to-date records and improve coordination for planning and emergency responses, officials said. "The bottom-line is we all need to be o…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Firefighters Decontaminated After Blaze At Supply Yard In Northern Westchester Firefighters Decontaminated After Blaze At Supply Yard In Northern Westchester
Firefighters Decontaminated After Blaze At Supply Yard In Northern Westchester A large industrial fire at a supply yard in Northern Westchester required the efforts of numerous fire departments and hazardous materials teams, firefighters said. The blaze, which escalated to a second alarm and happened at the Dakota Supply on Albany Post Road in Montrose, began around 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 11,  drawing firefighters from across Westchester, including from the Yorktown Heights and Hartsdale Fire Departments.  Upon arrival, Yorktown Heights firefighters noticed deteriorating conditions near a storage container holding hazardous materials, prompting ad…

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by Ben Crnic
Politics
Ken Jenkins Named Westchester County Executive Until Special Election Ken Jenkins Named Westchester County Executive Until Special Election
Ken Jenkins Named Westchester County Executive Until Special Election Westchester's Board of Legislators has named the next county executive who will serve until a special election is held in February following the departure of George Latimer for Washington.  In a special meeting held on Monday, Jan. 6, the Westchester County Board of Legislators named Ken Jenkins as County Executive.  Jenkins, the former Deputy County Executive, will serve until a Special Election on Tuesday, Feb. 11. The winner of that election will serve as County Executive through Dec. 31, 2025, completing the remainder of Latimer’s term. "I am deeply honored and humbled …

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by Ben Crnic
Politics
First-Ever Acting County Executive Named In Westchester After Latimer's Departure First-Ever Acting County Executive Named In Westchester After Latimer's Departure
First-Ever Acting County Executive Named In Westchester After Latimer's Departure Following George Latimer's resignation as he heads off to Congress, Westchester has appointed its first-ever Acting County Executive.  In a historic move, Westchester County Board of Legislators Chair Vedat Gashi announced the appointment of Richard G. Wishnie, Commissioner of the Westchester County Department of Emergency Services, as Acting County Executive on Thursday, Jan. 2, following George Latimer’s resignation after seven years in the role. Wishnie’s appointment marks the first time in Westchester history that the role of Acting County Executive has been triggered. Th…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Drone Captures Massive Mulch Fire As Crews Battle Blaze For Hours In Northern Westchester Drone Captures Massive Mulch Fire As Crews Battle Blaze For Hours In Northern Westchester
Drone Captures Massive Mulch Fire As Crews Battle Blaze For Hours In Northern Westchester A massive mulch fire in Northern Westchester required drone support and hours of effort to contain as crews battled frigid conditions and a lack of hydrants, officials said.  The fire began early Sunday, Dec. 8, when the Briarcliff Manor Fire Department was dispatched at around 12:30 a.m. for a reported brush fire on the Taconic State Parkway, according to fire officials.  After searching the area, no fire was found on the parkway. However, a large plume of smoke led responders to a mulch pile fire burning on Clay Bird Lane in Mount Pleasant With no hydrants nearby, tankers from …

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Lithium Ion Batteries Cause 2 Fires At Northern Westchester Residences Lithium Ion Batteries Cause 2 Fires At Northern Westchester Residences
Lithium Ion Batteries Cause 2 Fires At Northern Westchester Residences Firefighters rushed to two Northern Westchester homes after devices containing lithium-ion batteries went up in flames.  One of the incidents happened at a Somers residence on Wednesday, Aug. 21, when the battery inside a child-sized all-terrain vehicle went into thermal runway at around 1:30 a.m., spewing smoke, sparks, toxic gas, and debris, according to the Westchester County Department of Emergency Services.  The family was soon awakened by smoke detectors, DES officials said, adding that hazmat team members arrived to safely dispose of the battery.  The second fire…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Lithium Ion Battery Causes Garbage Truck Blaze In Westchester Lithium Ion Battery Causes Garbage Truck Blaze In Westchester
Lithium Ion Battery Causes Garbage Truck Blaze In Westchester A garbage truck in Westchester was damaged after a lithium-ion battery sparked a fire inside, setting its load of trash ablaze.  The incident happened on Wednesday, Aug. 21 just after 8 a.m., when a garbage truck was reported to be on fire on Gilbert Place in Port Chester, according to the village's fire department.  Arriving crews found that Public Works employees had already dumped the burning trash load in the street before it caught the rest of the truck on fire. Firefighters then stretched a hose to extinguish the flames in both the garbage pile and the truck, soon putting th…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Smoking Lithium Ion Battery Prompts Hazmat Response At Residence In Northern Westchester Smoking Lithium Ion Battery Prompts Hazmat Response At Residence In Northern Westchester
Smoking Lithium Ion Battery Prompts Hazmat Response At Residence In Northern Westchester Emergency crews raced to a Northern Westchester residence after a smoking lithium-ion battery was found inside.  The incident happened on Thursday, May 23 around 6:30 p.m., when a smoking lithium-ion battery was found at a Somers home on Loomis Drive. According to the Somers Volunteer Fire Department, crews responded within minutes and called the Westchester County Department of Emergency Services Hazardous Materials Team to help deal with the battery.  Once the hazmat team arrived, they suited up and were able to successfully dispose of the battery, fire officials said.&nbs…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Firefighter Injured During Blaze At Northern Westchester Residence Firefighter Injured During Blaze At Northern Westchester Residence
Firefighter Injured During Blaze At Northern Westchester Residence A firefighter was injured during a blaze at a Northern Westchester home that began in the residence's garage.  The incident began on Thursday, May 16 just after 6 p.m., when Croton-on-Hudson firefighters raced to a home on Memory Lane for a reported blaze.  Within minutes, crews were at the scene and confirmed that a fire had begun in the residence's garage. Firefighters then stretched a hose to the garage while also searching the home for residents.  The blaze was soon extinguished and firefighters began opening up walls, ceilings, and the flooring to make sure all hidden h…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Building Goes Up In Flames At Baseball Field In Westchester, Prompts Hazmat Response Building Goes Up In Flames At Baseball Field In Westchester, Prompts Hazmat Response
Building Goes Up In Flames At Baseball Field In Westchester, Prompts Hazmat Response Firefighters raced to a baseball field in Westchester after an intense blaze ignited at a park building.  The blaze began on Saturday, March 30 around 8:15 p.m., when the park house by the Gould Park baseball field in Dobbs Ferry went up in flames, according to the village's fire department.  Arriving crews soon found smoke pouring from the lower extension of the building and began fighting to put it out. Additionally, members of the Westchester County Hazmat team were called to the scene when it was determined that the fire was dangerously close to the building's chlorine room.&n…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Flood Watch Issued In Westchester: Parkways, Rivers Likely To Be Affected, Officials Warn Flood Watch Issued In Westchester: Parkways, Rivers Likely To Be Affected, Officials Warn
Flood Watch Issued In Westchester: Parkways, Rivers Likely To Be Affected, Officials Warn Ahead of a strong storm system expected to bring a deluge of rain to the region, Westchester officials are warning residents to hunker down and prepare for flash flooding.  In an announcement on Friday, March 22, the Westchester County Department of Emergency Services advised residents to expect downpours beginning on Friday night and continuing through Saturday, March 23.  Related Report - Flood Threat Increases For Potent Storm With Heavy Rainfall, Gusty Winds Taking Aim At Region The upcoming storm system has prompted a Flood Watch to be issued in Westchester until Saturd…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Chimney Fire Leaves Residence Blackened In Westchester Chimney Fire Leaves Residence Blackened In Westchester
Chimney Fire Leaves Residence Blackened In Westchester A fire that originated in a chimney left a Westchester residence with significant damage, including gaping holes in its walls.  The incident happened on Thursday, Nov. 2 around 6:40 p.m. in Dobbs Ferry on Hunters Run. According to the Dobbs Ferry Fire Department, arriving crews responding to a reported chimney fire were able to quickly extinguish the blaze before checking for any extension of the fire. After around two hours, the scene was cleared.  The Ardsley, Irvington, Fairview, Hastings, and Millwood Fire Departments also helped with the response, in addition to the Westches…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Rolled-Over Tractor Trailer Spills Diesel Fuel Into River In Bedford Rolled-Over Tractor Trailer Spills Diesel Fuel Into River In Bedford
Rolled-Over Tractor Trailer Spills Diesel Fuel Into River In Bedford A tractor-trailer rollover proved extra messy when the vehicle began leaking diesel fuel into a river underneath a highway in Northern Westchester.  The crash happened on Friday, Aug. 4 around 9:30 a.m., when the Katonah Fire Department responded to Interstate 684 Northbound in the area of Exit 6 in Bedford, where a tractor-trailer had rolled over.  Arriving crews soon realized that the truck was leaking fluids, including diesel fuel, and called for help from the Bedford Hills, Bedford, and Yorktown Heights Fire Departments, in addition to state police, Westchester County Departme…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Man Found Dead After House Fire In Northern Westchester Man Found Dead After House Fire In Northern Westchester
Man Found Dead After House Fire In Northern Westchester A man was killed in a house fire in Northern Westchester, firefighters said.  Updated Story - Police ID Man Who Died In House Fire In Somers The fire happened at a two-story residence in Somers on Barlow Court on Monday, Dec. 26 around 9:30 a.m., according to the Somers Volunteer Fire Department.  After arriving, firefighters could see fire and smoke pouring from the house. Soon, a search of the building was commenced as firefighters were able to contain the fire to the area where it started, officials said.  With the help of members of the Yorktown Fire Department, a …

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by Ben Crnic
News
Former Fire Chief Of Northern Westchester Department Named NY Deputy State Fire Administrator Former Fire Chief Of Northern Westchester Department Named NY Deputy State Fire Administrator
Former Fire Chief Of Northern Westchester Department Named NY Deputy State Fire Administrator A former chief of a fire department in Northern Westchester is now the first woman to ever serve as New York's Deputy State Fire Administrator.  Former Armonk Fire Chief Luci Labriola-Cuffe was named to the position, which serves the New York Office of Fire Prevention and Control (OFPC), on Thursday, Dec. 1, OFPC officials announced.  As Deputy State Fire Administrator, Labriola-Cuffe will make sure that the organization's training and education programs meet the new challenges and expanded responsibilities handled by OFPC, including newer threats suc…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Crews Work For Hours To Battle Blaze That Razed Northern Westchester House Crews Work For Hours To Battle Blaze That Razed Northern Westchester House
Crews Work For Hours To Battle Blaze That Razed Northern Westchester House All hands were on deck for several hours as crews worked to safely extinguish a blaze that razed a house in Northern Westchester. First responders were dispatched near the intersection of Jacobs Hill Road and East Main Street (Route 6) in Cortlandt shortly after 5:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 12, where there was a report of a structure fire. New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services personnel assisted New York State Police and the Mohegan Fire Department for hours, battling the blaze until the flames were eventually knocked down late in the afternoon, prompting a le…

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by Zak Failla
News
Wake Scheduled For Man Killed In Northern Westchester House Fire Wake Scheduled For Man Killed In Northern Westchester House Fire
Wake Scheduled For Man Killed In Northern Westchester House Fire A 53-year-old man killed in a fire at his Northern Westchester will be remembered during a visitation on Monday, July 9. Frank Fonte was found unconscious around 5 p.m. Sunday by Yorktown Heights firefighters and was pronounced dead a short time later at his home at 1789 Baldwin Road. Yorktown Police could not confirm the identity until they receive forensic verification and await investigation results, but services have been scheduled for Fonte. Fonte, who was the sole occupant in the house at the time of the fire, will be remembered from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. July 9 at Clark Funeral Home, 210…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Man Killed In Two-Alarm Northern Westchester House Fire Man Killed In Two-Alarm Northern Westchester House Fire
Man Killed In Two-Alarm Northern Westchester House Fire Click here for an updated story: Wake Scheduled For Man Killed In Northern Westchester House Fire  A 53-year-old man was killed after a two-alarm fire broke out Sunday at a home in Northern Westchester. The blaze, on the 1700 block of Baldwin Road just east of the Taconic State Parkway in Yorktown Heights, began just before 5 p.m., with the home quickly fully engulfed in flames. The man was the lone occupant in the house, Yorktown Police said. He was unconscious when firefighters arrived. After he was removed from the home, it was apparent he was deceased, Yorktown Police said. More tha…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Ex-Fire Chief From Northern Westchester Charged With Lewd Acts With Minor Ex-Fire Chief From Northern Westchester Charged With Lewd Acts With Minor
Ex-Fire Chief From Northern Westchester Charged With Lewd Acts With Minor This story has been updated. A former fire chief in Northern Westchester is facing charges accusing him of lewd behavior with a minor and disseminating indecent material, according to the New York State Police. John M. Novohradsky, 53, of Queensbury, who volunteers with the Queensbury Central Fire Co., was arrested Thursday by state police on numerous charges following an investigation, state police said. A former Buchanan Fire chief, Novohradsky used Snapchat to send a naked picture of himself to the victim last month, then on a separate occasion, fondled the victim's genitals, said Troope…

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by Kathy Reakes