YONKERS, N.Y. Fire investigators continued to comb through the rubble Monday after a fast-moving blaze the day before destroyed a Webster Avenue home and displaced 28 residents.
Red Cross spokeswoman Abigail Adams said Monday the disaster relief agency had provided 19 residents with temporary shelter at the PAL building on North Broadway and was working with community agencies to find more permanent housing for the individuals.
She added that mental health professionals were also working with the families, an important part of the recovery process.
It helps people get on the road to recovery more quickly after a devastating loss, Adams said.
Fire investigators are continuing to probe the blaze, which they had reason to believe was intentionally set. On Sunday, fire officials said they were bringing dogs to the scene to try to locate any accelerant that might have been used, according to reports.
On Monday, Yonkers police said they were working with fire officials to investigate the fire, noting its intensity was one of the reasons investigators suspected arson.
Many residents said Sunday they, too, noticed how quickly the fire spread and speculated about the cause. Whatever the reason, many said they lost everything in the blaze.
Marlyn Gonzalez said her family had moved into one of the apartments in the home the day before flames erupted.
It crazy, she said Sunday. Now, we have to start over.
Firefighters responded to the blaze at 3:38 p.m. and found the home at 103 Webster Ave. completely engulfed in flames. The fire destroyed the structure and quickly spread to the homes on each side.
In total, five buildings sustained fire damage, Flynn said, including two that were severely damaged.
Toward the latter stage of the blaze, six firefighters from two companies were trapped by advancing flames in the rear of the home, Flynn said. They were rescued by FAST, or Firefighters Assist Team, who used ladders outside the building to get the responders out, Flynn said.
Four firefighters were hurt in the blaze and four residents were taken to the hospital after complaining of difficulty breathing.
Fire officials have also said they feared several pets had died in the blaze; residents reported a Chihuahua among the dogs still missing.
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