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Police & Fire
Blaze Sparks At Yorktown Heights Restaurant Blaze Sparks At Yorktown Heights Restaurant
Blaze Sparks At Yorktown Heights 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 Northern Westchester High School Chimney Fire Prompts Emergency Response At Northern Westchester High School
Chimney Fire Prompts Emergency Response At Northern Westchester High School 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
Somers Firefighters Battle Car Blaze, Burning Wires Somers Firefighters Battle Car Blaze, Burning Wires
Somers Firefighters Battle Car Blaze, Burning Wires 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
Police & Fire
Rubbish Fire Ignites Near Railroad Yard In Northern Westchester Rubbish Fire Ignites Near Railroad Yard In Northern Westchester
Rubbish Fire Ignites Near Railroad Yard In Northern Westchester Firefighters responded to a Northern Westchester railroad yard after a blaze ignited in a rubbish pile. The incident happened on Wednesday, March 27 around 10 p.m., when Croton-on-Hudson Fire crews responded to a reported trash fire near the old Metro Enviro building on Croton Point Avenue near the Croton-Harmon railroad yard, according to the department.  Crews soon found a smoldering fire in some railroad ties and were able to extinguish it quickly, firefighters said.  The cause of the blaze was not released. 

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
High-Rise Blaze Prompts Evacuation Of Residents At Northern Westchester Apartment Building High-Rise Blaze Prompts Evacuation Of Residents At Northern Westchester Apartment Building
High-Rise Blaze Prompts Evacuation Of Residents At Northern Westchester Apartment Building A blaze on a high floor at a Northern Westchester apartment complex proved to be a difficult battle for firefighters. The blaze began in Peekskill on Friday, March 22 just before 2:30 p.m., when a fire alarm was set off at the Crossroads Apartments at 1109 Brown St., according to the City of Peekskill Fire Department.  Arriving fire crews soon found smoke coming from the window of a fifth-floor apartment and quickly raced up to begin putting it out. Once they got to the floor of the fire, crews found that the hallway was filled with smoke and found an active blaze inside the apartment.…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Wind-Driven Attic Blaze Damages Northern Westchester Residence Wind-Driven Attic Blaze Damages Northern Westchester Residence
Wind-Driven Attic Blaze Damages Northern Westchester Residence A blaze that ignited in the attic of a Northern Westchester residence proved to be a tough battle for firefighters thanks to gusty winds. The blaze began on Thursday, March 21 just after 1 p.m. at a residence in Buchanan, according to the Croton-on-Hudson and Millwood Fire Departments. Arriving fire crews soon began battling the blaze in the residence's attic and first and second floors, which proved to be difficult thanks to gusty winds and unstable floors.  Eventually, the blaze was brought under control around 3:30 p.m. Members of the Buchanan, Croton, Millwood, Continental Village…

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by Ben Crnic
Obituaries
Funeral Details Released For Former Somers Fire Chief: 'Selfless Person' Funeral Details Released For Former Somers Fire Chief: 'Selfless Person'
Funeral Details Released For Former Somers Fire Chief: 'Selfless Person' Funeral arrangments have been announced for a former Northern Westchester fire chief who spent nearly his entire life serving the public in both his career and as a volunteer.  A wake for Raymond Baker, the former chief of the Somers Volunteer Fire Department who died unexpectedly in his sleep on Saturday, March 9 at the age of 64, will be held on Friday, March 22 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Beecher Flooks Funeral Home in Pleasantville at 418 Bedford Rd.  Earlier Report - Former Somers Fire Chief Dies: 'He Will Be Deeply Missed' A Mass of Christian Burial will also be …

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
2 Firefighters Injured In Blaze At Westchester Residence 2 Firefighters Injured In Blaze At Westchester Residence
2 Firefighters Injured In Blaze At Westchester Residence Two firefighters were injured while battling a blaze at a residence in Westchester.  The fire happened in White Plains on Thursday, Feb. 29 at a residence on South Broadway, according to the city's fire department.  The blaze began in the attic and walls of the structure but was quickly knocked out before it could spread and cause more damage to the home, firefighters said.  No occupants in the home were harmed, but two firefighters suffered minor injuries during the effort to put out the blaze, the department said. 

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by Ben Crnic