Peekskill Apartment Blaze Leaves 27 Homeless; Community Organizes Help

A fast moving fire destroyed an apartment complex in Peekskill Thursday morning, leaving 27 people homeless.

The blaze started on the second-floor of one of the 16 apartments in the two-story brick building at Hudson View Apartments and Homes on Lakeview Drive, off Pemart Avenue, at approximately 10:40 a.m.

Dozens of firefighters from six area fire departments quickly responded but experienced low water pressure from a water main break.

“At no point in time did we ever lose water at the fire scene,” said Peekskill Mayor Mary Foster. “After the water main break, water flowed at a lower pressure to the fire scene. The Fire Department acted proactively and both tapped into other water lines on Highland Avenue and also supplemented water via a brigade of mutual aid tankers that responded as part of a carefully executed contingency plan.”

A boil water advisory was issued by city officials for several days to residents on Garfield Street, Pemart Avenue. Catherine Street, Lakeview Drive and Marion Avenue. Firefighters also brought in mutual aid water tankers to fight the fire, which was brought under control in about three hours.

The cause of the fire, which was not considered suspicious, has not been determined.

Peekskill firefighters were still at the scene Friday morning pouring water from hoses on potential hotspots in piles of charred rubbish, while construction personnel removed the few walls that were left standing.

None of the 20 adults and seven children who resided in the apartments were injured but reportedly several cats and a dog were killed.

“I’d like to applaud the hard work of the Peekskill Fire Department and our other city crews who have been working around the clock, addressing the fire and water main break,” Foster said. “The people who lost their homes are in our thoughts today and we’re deeply relieved there were no injuries.”

Volunteers from the American Red Cross offered assistance to the displaced tenants from the complex, which was built in the 1960s and met all of the city’s building codes, according to Foster.

Some local establishments are in the process of doing drives to collect needed items for the victims who range in age from 20 months to 87 years old. Below is the list of organizations and their contact information:

• St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 137 N. Division St., Peekskill, NY – email: worship@stpeterspeekskill.org or call 914-737-6312 – (will be collecting items daily in the Parish Hall)

• The Peekskill Elks Lodge, 1038 Brown St, Peekskill NY – email bpoe744@optimum.net – (will be collecting items at the Lodge starting Monday, March 25, 2013 from noon to 4 p.m.)

• The Quiet Man Public House, 15 N Division , Peekskill, NY – email theqmpublichouse@gmail.com or call 914-438-6024 – (will be collecting items daily at the restaurant from noon to 2 a.m.)

Suggested items to donate, as recommended by The American Red Cross include:

• Gift Cards: Of any amount $5 to $500, especially to grocery stores, Wal-Mart, pre-paid Visa/MasterCard/American Express, Dunkin Donuts, restaurants, etc.

• Clothing: Women’s, Men’s, Teens, & Children, gently used or brand new, new socks and undergarments, pajamas, etc.

• Food: Best if non-perishable but also looking for bottled beverages (water, soda, juice), fresh fruit, fully cooked meals, breakfast items (muffins, bagels), granola bars, coffee, tea, etc.

• Toiletries: The Red Cross will be supplying the initial necessary items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, and shampoo, but the impacted families will need these vital items. Please drop off toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, soap, razors, shaving cream, toilet paper, brushes/combs, hair ties, tampons, diapers, bath towels, bath robes, etc.

• Household Items: New pillows, blankets, sheets, pillow cases, stuffed animals for small children, etc.

• Furniture: If you have large items of furniture (beds, dressers, couches, cribs, etc.) to donate please put your Name, Phone Number, and Description of the Item(s) you would like to donate in an envelope and drop it off or email mail it. A case worker from the Red Cross will speak directly with the impacted families to see if they would like your item. This will be a case by case matter and DO NOT bring furniture items to the restaurant please.

• Children’s Items: Assorted items for ages 20 months, four and five years old, 10 to 13 years old, including toys, books, school supplies, etc.

• Cash Donations: Any money that is collected will be used to by gift cards to split among the families.