Utility is faulted in yeshiva fire
By KIMBERLY ATKINS
THE JOURNAL NEWS
(Original publication: June 20, 2004)
BEDFORD HILLS — Firefighters battling a Friday night blaze that gutted a building at a Hasidic yeshiva on Haines Road were hampered by the electric company's slow response, fire officials said yesterday.
The fire at the K'hal Adas Kasho yeshiva destroyed a powerhouse that distributed electricity to other buildings in the 165-acre Orthodox community of about 700.
Though dozens of firefighters from five northern Westchester departments were at the scene within minutes of the first call at 8:47 p.m. Friday, they had to wait 45 minutes for New York State Electric and Gas officials to cut the supply of power to the building, Bedford Hills Fire Chief Santo Curro said.
"It was very frustrating for the firefighters to be there and not to be able to do anything because we are at the mercy of New York State Electric and Gas," Curro said. "It never would have went that far if NYSEG had a prompt response as they do in normal business hours."
Officials at NYSEG did not return calls seeking comment yesterday.
Curro said firefighters used dry chemical extinguishers on the blaze until the electricity was cut off, then they were able to use water hoses. By then the flames, which began on the first floor, had spread throughout the two-story brick building.
The fire was brought under control by 12:18 a.m., but not before the inside of the building was destroyed.
The electrical fire was determined to be accidental, Curro said. One firefighter suffered minor injuries and was treated and released from Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco, he said. None of the yeshiva community residents was injured.
Rabbi Abraham Blum said someone noticed the fire when power went out to one of the buildings at the complex and residents went to investigate and saw smoke and sparks coming from the powerhouse.
"It looked like lightning," said Esther Gold, 21, who lives in a residence abutting the building.
When NYSEG cut power, it went off for the entire complex of classrooms and residences, Curro said, and back-up generators had to be turned on to supply power to ventilators, on which two yeshiva residents, including Blum's father, rely.
Torn yellow caution tape still surrounded the building yesterday afternoon. Residents said power had been restored to all but three buildings within an hour of being shut off Friday night.
Staff writers Liz Sadler and Amy Clark contributed to this report. Reach Kimberly Atkins at
[email protected] or 914-694-3527.Staff writers Liz Sadler and Amy Clark contributed to this report. Reach Kimberly Atkins at
[email protected] or 914-694-3527.
הטקסט שלך כאן
