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Police & Fire
Fire Rips Through Former Gucci Estate In Westchester Fire Rips Through Former Gucci Estate In Westchester
Fire Rips Through Former Gucci Estate In Westchester Firefighters are battling a large fire at the former Gucci Estate in Northern Westchester The fire began around 6 a.m., Friday, Nov. 8, at the 5,300-square-foot home located in Yorktown Heights at 1230 Baptist Church Road. Firefighters are having to truck in water as no fire hydrants are located in the area. Information on Zillow said the home has four bedrooms, five bathrooms, an au pair suite, as well as a one-bedroom guest house. The 11-acre estate also has a pool, a double-sided paddock, professional tennis court, gazebo with a pond, and a waterfall and stream. Firefighters are still …

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by Kathy Reakes
Obituaries
Yonkers Firefighter Dies Of 9/11-Related Cancer Yonkers Firefighter Dies Of 9/11-Related Cancer
Yonkers Firefighter Dies Of 9/11-Related Cancer A longtime firefighter in Westchester has died of 9/11-related cancer. "It is with deep regret that the Yonkers Fire Department announces the passing of Firefighter John Peteani," Yonkers FD Deputy Chief of Personnel Daniel P. Flynn said. Peteani, a 19-year veteran of the department, died on Sunday, Nov. 3. He was 57 years old. A line-of-duty funeral will take place at St. John the Baptist Church at 670 Yonkers Avenue on Thursday Nov. 7 at 10:30 a.m. Peteani was born on Dec. 4, 1961 in the Bronx, New York to Marlene and John Peteani Sr.  He married his wife, Ange…

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by Joe Lombardi
Police & Fire
Electrical Fire At High-Rise Yonkers Apartment Forces Hundreds To Evacuate Electrical Fire At High-Rise Yonkers Apartment Forces Hundreds To Evacuate
Electrical Fire At High-Rise Yonkers Apartment Forces Hundreds To Evacuate Hundreds of Westchester residents were forced to evacuate a 19-story high rise apartment building in Yonkers when a fire broke out, officials said. A fire broke out at a Central Park Avenue apartment complex shortly after 6:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 16, Deputy Fire Chief Daniel Flynn said. The fire forced approximately 250 units to be cleared after flames broke out in the building. Flynn said the first responders initially found smoke in the lobby and a fire in the electrical room, which was quickly extinguished. The fire spread to a floor above, but caused minimal damage. The building lo…

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by Zak Failla
Obituaries
Ex-Fire Chief From Hudson Valley Dies of 9/11-Related Illness Ex-Fire Chief From Hudson Valley Dies of 9/11-Related Illness
Ex-Fire Chief From Hudson Valley Dies of 9/11-Related Illness The ex-chief of the Pine Bush Fire Department and a former New York City Fire Department firefighter, has died from 9/11 related injuries at the age of 65. Richard “Ricky” John Tanagretta died on Tuesday, Sept. 24, surrounded by his family, said his obituary. Tanagretta worked as an FDNY firefighter for 26 years. He was also an instructor for the New York State and Orange County Fire Academies, mentoring many generations of first responders.   He was a past chief of the Pine Bush Volunteer Fire Department, where he was a member for 27 years, touching the lives of many.  Th…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Firefighter Injured After Blaze Breaks Out At Home In Yonkers Firefighter Injured After Blaze Breaks Out At Home In Yonkers
Firefighter Injured After Blaze Breaks Out At Home In Yonkers A firefighter received a minor injury battling a blaze in a home that was allegedly illegally occupied in Westchester. The fire at 10 Baldwin Place, was detected around 3:08 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 18, when a Yonkers police officer detected an odor of smoke and requested firefighters to the area to investigate, said Yonkers Fire Deputy Chief Of Personnel Daniel P. Flynn.  After finding the fire at the vacant, wood two-story home at 10 Baldwin Place, firefighters encountered a heavy volume of fire on the second floor, Flynn said. Two hose lines were stretched into the building and …

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by Kathy Reakes
Obituaries
Pilot Killed In NYC Chopper Crash Remembered As 'Dedicated, Professional' Ex-Fire Chief In Area Pilot Killed In NYC Chopper Crash Remembered As 'Dedicated, Professional' Ex-Fire Chief In Area
Pilot Killed In NYC Chopper Crash Remembered As 'Dedicated, Professional' Ex-Fire Chief In Area The pilot from the Hudson Valley killed in a helicopter crash-landing on the roof of a Manhattan skyscraper is being remembered for his years of service as a longtime fire chief in the area. McCormack, the only victim in the crash, had taken off from the 34th Street heliport 11 minutes before crashing onto the top of the 750-foot tall building amid rain and fog, setting its roof on fire. Tim McCormack, 58, served on the Clinton Volunteer Fire Department in Dutchess County from 1994 until his death on Monday afternoon, June 10. He was the department's chief for 10 years. He was previously a …

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by Joe Lombardi
Obituaries
FDNY Firefighter, Yonkers Resident Killed In Afghanistan By Roadside Bomb FDNY Firefighter, Yonkers Resident Killed In Afghanistan By Roadside Bomb
Fdny Firefighter, Yonkers Resident Killed In Afghanistan By Roadside Bomb A U.S. Marine killed in Afghanistan by a roadside bomb on Monday, April 8 was a New York City firefighter and a former Westchester resident. Christopher A. Slutman, 43, of Ladder Company 27 in the South Bronx, a 15-year veteran of the department, died as a result of injuries sustained while on active duty in Afghanistan, said New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. Slutman, who lived in Yonkers with his wife and three children for years, most recently lived in Wilmington, Delaware, and commuted to New York to work, according to News 4. The well-liked firefighter was honored five years ago…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Enormous Brush Fire Breaks Out Over 12 Acres In Westchester Enormous Brush Fire Breaks Out Over 12 Acres In Westchester
Enormous Brush Fire Breaks Out Over 12 Acres In Westchester Firefighters from multiple municipalities teamed up to battle an aggressive brush fire that broke out in Northern Westchester Wednesday night, April 3,  The blaze occurred along the northern side of Todd Road in the Lewisboro hamlet of Golden Bridge and damaged an estimated 12 acres of wetlands, according to Goldens Bridge Fire Chief James McManus. Multiple 911 calls came in around 6:45 p.m., said McManus, prompting the Goldens Bridge Fire Department to respond quickly, as the blaze continued to grow in size. “When we arrived on the scene, the fire had consumed approximately thre…

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by Valerie Musson
Police & Fire
Numerous Road Closures As Two-Alarm Fire Sweeps Through Sleepy Hollow Numerous Road Closures As Two-Alarm Fire Sweeps Through Sleepy Hollow
Numerous Road Closures As Two-Alarm Fire Sweeps Through Sleepy Hollow Firefighters from several departments are battling a two-alarm blaze in Sleepy Hollow The blaze at 7 Barnhart Ave., was reported around 2:46 p.m. Thursday, March 7, officials said. Sleepy Hollow Police said numerous roads are closed in the area including Barnhart, Clinton Street, Andrews Street, and Beekman. Motorists are asked to avoid the area to allow for emergency vehicles. Heavy smoke surrounds the area of what appears to be a line of businesses and apartments at the location.  Officials could not provide information at this time.  An ambulance has been called to the …

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
House Destroyed After Fire Breaks Out In Westchester House Destroyed After Fire Breaks Out In Westchester
House Destroyed After Fire Breaks Out In Westchester A 3,000-square-foot Northern Westchester home was destroyed by fire as firefighters battled high winds and had to truck in water. The Goldens Bridge Fire Department received the call for the fire around 8:23 p.m. Sunday at 8 Manor Drive, said Assistant Chief Al Melillo. When crews arrived on the scene they found a fully-involved fire in the large home. Water had to be trucked in by numerous fire departments from a pond on Fairmont Road, the chief said. A long, narrow driveway to the home made it difficult to get the water to the fire. "The high winds definitely hindered fire fightin…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Synagogue In Westchester Damaged By Fire Synagogue In Westchester Damaged By Fire
Synagogue In Westchester Damaged By Fire Firefighters managed to save a majority of religious items and artifacts during a fire at the Chabad Jewish Center in Bedford Hills. The fire started around 2 p.m. Tuesday at the center located on Railroad Avenue, said Bedford Hills Fire Chief Jason Nickson. Firefighters arrived on the scene within four minutes of the initial call and immediately went to work including searching the structure, said Nickson. Some 75 firefighters were able to knock down the fire after battling the flames for about 30 minutes.  About a quarter of the center's main entrance area was damaged by the b…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Fire Called 'Suspicious' Destroys Home In Westchester Fire Called 'Suspicious' Destroys Home In Westchester
Fire Called 'Suspicious' Destroys Home In Westchester A raging fire destroyed a house in Westchester on Tuesday morning. Firefighters from several Westchester departments were dispatched to Smith Street in Port Chester shortly before 5 a.m., when the vacant home went up in flames. According to reports, the fire has been deemed “suspicious.” Fire crews took several hours to knock down the flames, and a first-floor roof collapsed. No injuries were reported. Smith and Pearl streets were temporarily closed in Port Chester as officials investigated the fire, including an arson detection dog from the Westchester Police Department. The village …

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by Zak Failla