Fire Claims Life of Woman, Hospitalizes Husband
Photo credit: Neal Rentz
A fatal fire, believed to be electrical in nature, claimed the life of an 86-year-old Mount Kisco woman, and according to Mayor Michael Cindrich, put her 93-year-old husband in a coma on Aug. 13.
“The last I heard, he was in a coma,” Cindrich said at Friday’s village board of trustees meeting.
A message left for the hospital’s public relations department on Friday was not returned.
Westchester County Police Inspector Thomas Gleason said the fire began at about 6 a.m. in the second story of the house located at 540 Main St., behind a gas station and other commercial buildings.
“Despite the extremely dangerous situation, the Mount Kisco Fire Department made a heroic effort to save the life of Mrs. Nicholas,” Mayor Michael Cindrich said. “Her death is a very sad and tragic incident.”
Gleason said the couple initially escaped the second floor fire, but Mrs. Nicholas went back into the burning building. “She went back to rescue a cat or cats,” Gleason said.
Gleason said the Westchester County Police and the Mount Kisco Fire Department and EMS responded to the scene. The couple was transported to Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco.
“The fire at 540 Main St. remains under investigation and is being the supervised by the Mount Kisco Fire Department,” Cindrich said.
Though officials believe the fire could have been electrical in nature, “There’s no final determination,” Gleason said.
However, Mount Kisco Fire Chief Mario Muccioli reportedly said the cause of the fire was electrical.
Though Gleason said the fire was restricted to the second floor, village officials reported the house is no longer habitable.
Village Manager Edward Brancati said at Friday’s village board meeting some of the family’s cats did not survive the fire, but some others, who had smoke inhalation, were saved by local veterinarians and being cared for by the local SPCA. Brancati did not know how many cats lived and died.
