Bedford Hills Firefighters Battle Apartment Fire on Rome Avenue |
| By President of Department / Deputy Chief Jason L. Nickson | |
| September 22, 2026 | |
| BEDFORD HILLS, N.Y. — The Bedford Hills Fire Department was dispatched at approximately 13:39 hours for a reported kitchen fire at 43 Rome Avenue. Engine 198 was the first arriving Bedford Hills Fire Department unit. Upon arrival, the crew observed smoke showing from the doorway and immediately transmitted a 10-75, reporting a working structure fire in a two-story occupied multiple dwelling. Crews from Engine 198 and Engine 199 encountered heavy fire conditions inside the apartment and quickly went to work to locate and extinguish the fire while conducting searches of the fire apartment. As firefighters operated inside the apartment, the fire began autoexposing on the exterior of the structure to the second floor. A second alarm was transmitted, bringing additional mutual aid resources to the scene, including the Yorktown Fire Department FAST Team. The main body of the fire was knocked down at approximately 14:09 hours, roughly 30 minutes after the initial dispatch. Firefighters continued overhaul operations and conducted additional searches to ensure the fire was fully extinguished and that no additional hazards remained. Crews from Tower Ladder 57 operated on the roof and at the rear of the structure to ensure the fire had not extended into the floors above. The exterior fire was extinguished by crews before it extended into any additional apartments, and the fire ultimately remained confined to the apartment of origin. Katonah Fire Department’s Ladder 39 was requested to the scene and assisted with primary and secondary searches of the fire apartment and adjacent apartments. The Bedford Fire Department and Mount Kisco Fire Department responded with engines to provide additional manpower. Mount Kisco also provided a FAST Team to assist with firefighter safety operations. Katonah Bedford Hills Volunteer Ambulance Corps and Westchester EMS (ALS) were also requested to the scene, where an occupant of the building was evaluated. There were no reported injuries to civilians or firefighters. The American Red Cross responded to assist residents who were displaced as a result of the fire. The Westchester County Department of Emergency Services Cause and Origin Team responded to assist with the investigation. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Unit Rundown: Mutual Aid: Relocated to BHFD: |
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