Blaze destroys yeshiva building

By BRIAN J. HOWARD
THE JOURNAL NEWS
(Original publication: April 24, 2005)

As many as 150 firefighters from Mount Kisco and surrounding departments spent half a day battling a blaze at a New Castle yeshiva yesterday, only to return hours later after remnants of the fire flared up again.

No residents or firefighters were injured in the 2:10 a.m. fire at Yeshiva Farms Settlement School off Pines Bridge Road. However, a large two-story structure on the multi-acre compound was completely leveled. As firefighters sprayed the building's charred remains, only a tall brick fireplace at the far end of the building was left standing.

Mount Kisco Assistant Fire Chief Richard Hardy said the structure was a residence that also was used for storage and food preparation.

"The biggest problem we had was all this caving in," Hardy said, gesturing to the wreckage around 6:45 last night, nearly two hours after returning to the scene. "We couldn't pull (the building's contents) out. We soaked it the best we could. Hopefully, we won't have to come back again."

The fire comes at a particularly significant time for the Hasidic enclave, where the property overlooks the New Croton Reservoir. Passover began at sundown yesterday. Dozens of residents watched as firefighters tended to the scene, but they declined to comment on the fire.

Departments from Millwood, Bedford Hills, Armonk, Katonah and Yorktown assisted in battling the blaze, while Ossining, Chappaqua and Goldens Bridge were on standby.

Hardy said the balloon construction of the building and the significant amount of materials inside made the fire difficult to fight. Given those factors, he added, the time it took to fight the fire and the fact that it flared up again weren't surprising.

There was little hope of saving the building, though.

"When you come on the scene and it's fully involved like this, you're fighting an uphill battle," said Hardy.

The fact that no one was hurt in the blaze was of some satisfaction to firefighters and residents.

"When we pulled up, that was our first question," third Assistant Chief Michael Boles said. "Is everyone out? Is everyone safe?"

The Westchester County Cause and Origin Team ruled the fire accidental, but the cause remains undetermined.