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Police & Fire
Raging Car Fire Caught On Video By New Police Drone In Westchester Raging Car Fire Caught On Video By New Police Drone In Westchester
Raging Car Fire Caught On Video By New Police Drone In Westchester Police and firefighters had eyes in the sky while extinguishing a vehicle blaze in Westchester.  The blaze happened alongside a busy street in Yonkers over the weekend of Saturday, July 20, the Yonkers Police Department announced on Monday, July 22. According to police, after the fire was reported in the city's 3rd Precinct, the department's new drone, Air1, took off from its launching location from the roof of St. Joseph's Medical Center and flew to the scene of the blaze. There, it was able to catch the incident on camera and give first responders an idea of the situation before they…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Car Fire Extends To Surrounding Woods In Hudson Valley Car Fire Extends To Surrounding Woods In Hudson Valley
Car Fire Extends To Surrounding Woods In Hudson Valley A blaze that consumed a vehicle in the Hudson Valley became even worse after it extended to the surrounding woods. The incident happened in Putnam County on Wednesday, July 10 just after 9:30 p.m., when a car caught on fire in Carmel in the area of Gipsy Trail Road, according to the Lake Carmel Fire Department. Arriving crews soon discovered that the blaze had extended to the surrounding woods. Despite the complication, firefighters were able to quickly put out the flames with help from the Frozen Fun Ice Cream Truck, which helped crews at the scene by providing them with frozen treats.…

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by Ben Crnic
Obituaries
Retired Longtime Fire Chief Of Westchester Department Dies: Made 'Indelible Imprint' Retired Longtime Fire Chief Of Westchester Department Dies: Made 'Indelible Imprint'
Retired Longtime Fire Chief Of Westchester Department Dies: Made 'Indelible Imprint' The former chief of a fire district in Westchester who held the position for more than three decades is being remembered for his dedication to serving his community.  Daniel Raftery, the former chief of the Greenville Fire District, died on Sunday, June 16, the department announced. His age was not made public.  A longtime member of the fire district, Raftery originally joined in 1973 and rose to the rank of Chief in 1986. He continued to lead the district for 34 years until retiring in 2020.  In their announcement, the district described Raftery as an "admired and…

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by Ben Crnic
Obituaries
NY Veteran's Lifelong 'Secret' Revealed In Heartbreaking Obituary Going Viral NY Veteran's Lifelong 'Secret' Revealed In Heartbreaking Obituary Going Viral
NY Veteran's Lifelong 'Secret' Revealed In Heartbreaking Obituary Going Viral A decorated veteran and retired firefighter from upstate New York is going viral for his heartbreaking posthumous revelation. Lifelong Rensselaer County resident Col. Edward Thomas Ryan, of Rensselaer, died with a long-kept secret that rendered him “afraid of being ostracized,” he wrote in his own obituary, which was published in the Albany Times Union on Saturday, June 8. "I must tell you one more thing. I was gay all my life: thru grade school, thru high school, thru college, thru life,” Ryan wrote. “I'm sorry for not having the courage to come out as gay. I was afraid of being ostraciz…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
Commercial Building Catches On Fire In Westchester Commercial Building Catches On Fire In Westchester
Commercial Building Catches On Fire In Westchester Thanks to quick action from firefighters, a blaze at a commercial building in Westchester was stopped from being worse than it could have been. The fire happened on Tuesday, June 11 around 5:15 p.m., when firefighters found light smoke coming from the roof of 11 Prospect Ave. in Mount Vernon, which contains several storefronts. According to Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard, firefighters soon reported the incident as a working fire and quickly extinguished it.  No injuries to occupants or firefighters were reported following the blaze, Patterson-Howard said.  "The …

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Blaze Sparks At Northern Westchester Restaurant Blaze Sparks At Northern Westchester Restaurant
Blaze Sparks At Northern Westchester Restaurant A blaze at a Northern Westchester restaurant was stopped from being worse than it could have been thanks to the quick actions of firefighters.  The fire happened on Monday, June 6 just after 2:30 a.m. at Coral Seafood Restaurant in Yorktown Heights at 63 Route 6, according to the Mahopac Volunteer Fire Department, which helped respond to the blaze.  Thanks to the work of fire crews, more extensive damage to the building was prevented, the department said.  The cause of the fire was not released. 

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by Ben Crnic
Obituaries
Longtime Firefighter, Baseball Coach From Northern Westchester Dies Longtime Firefighter, Baseball Coach From Northern Westchester Dies
Longtime Firefighter, Baseball Coach From Northern Westchester Dies A beloved firefighter, baseball coach, and Navy veteran from Northern Westchester is being remembered for his longstanding dedication to helping his community.  Banksville resident Preston Pratley died on Monday, May 27 at the age of 79, according to his obituary.  Born in 1944, Pratley was born in Greenwich and later moved to Banksville after marrying his wife, Geraldine Kerslake, in May 1968.  A graduate of St. Mary's High School in Greenwich, Pratley was a Navy veteran who also became a proud member of Local #38, Sheet Metal Workers.  He was also…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Blaze Breaks Out At Eatery In Westchester Blaze Breaks Out At Eatery In Westchester
Blaze Breaks Out At Eatery In Westchester Firefighters raced to put out a blaze that broke out inside a fried chicken restaurant in Westchester. The blaze happened on Wednesday morning, April 24 at Kennedy's Fried Chicken in White Plains at 4 East Post Rd. (Route 22), according to the White Plains Fire Department. The fire did not end up being too severe, firefighters said. The cause of the blaze was not released. The department said the blaze highlighted the need for more staffing, as the city's call volume has increased.

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by Ben Crnic
Obituaries
Beloved Former Northern Westchester Fire Chief Dies At 68 Beloved Former Northern Westchester Fire Chief Dies At 68
Beloved Former Northern Westchester Fire Chief Dies At 68 A former fire chief from Northern Westchester who dedicated most of his life to his department is remembered for always helping his community.  Longtime Ossining resident Raymond Lips, the former chief of the Millwood Fire Department and life member, died suddenly at his home on Tuesday, April 9 at the age of 68, according to his obituary.  Born in 1955, Lips graduated from Ossining High School in 1973 and earned an Associate's Degree from Westchester Community College before joining Otto A. Lips Electric, the family business.  In addition to his career, Lips was a lifelong …

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Chimney Fire Prompts Emergency Response At Fox Lane HS Chimney Fire Prompts Emergency Response At Fox Lane HS
Chimney Fire Prompts Emergency Response At Fox Lane HS Firefighters raced to a high school in Northern Westchester after receiving reports of a chimney fire. The incident happened on Monday morning, April 8, when crews from the Millwood Fire Department responded to a reported chimney fire at Fox Lane High School in Bedford.  According to the department, arriving crews soon discovered that the affected chimney was clogged and quickly worked to unclog it and return the situation to safety.  No injuries were reported. 

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Blaze Tears Through Northern Westchester Home, Causes Road Closure Blaze Tears Through Northern Westchester Home, Causes Road Closure
Blaze Tears Through Northern Westchester Home, Causes Road Closure Firefighters from several departments spent hours fighting a blaze at a Northern Westchester residence that required nearly 100,000 gallons of water and an excavator to completely extinguish. Updated Report - Update: Funds Come To Pound Ridge Firefighter Hurt In Blaze The blaze began on Monday morning, April 8 at a residence on Long Ridge Road in Bedford, according to the Bedford Fire Department. After crews arrived at the home at around 7:30 a.m., they searched the building and found no one inside. Firefighters then began dousing the flames, which were tearing through the sides and r…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Firefighters Battle Car Blaze, Burning Wires In Northern Westchester Firefighters Battle Car Blaze, Burning Wires In Northern Westchester
Firefighters Battle Car Blaze, Burning Wires In Northern Westchester Firefighters battled both a car blaze and downed burning wires that began at nearly the same time during a busy morning in Northern Westchester.  The incidents happened on Wednesday, April 3 just before 9 a.m., when firefighters in Somers responded to downed burning wires on Route 202 near Todd Road while also being called to the scene of a car blaze in a parking lot on Route 6.  According to the Somers Volunteer Fire Department, the car blaze was successfully put out with  1,000 gallons of water. Meanwhile, firefighters closed Route 202 while NYSEG could shut off the power a…

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by Ben Crnic