Water Pressure Hindered Attack on Peekskill Fire
Peekskill Fire Chief Robert Fiorio said last week water pressure problems in the area of Lakeview Drive presented problems for firefighters battling a blaze in an apartment building that left 27 people homeless.
During a Peekskill Common Council meeting with several victims of the fire in attendance, Fiorio said a water main break at the corner of Garfield Street and Marion Avenue caused firefighters to lose water while they were trying to contain the fire on the morning of March 21.
Similar: Peekskill Apartment Blaze Leaves 27 Homeless; Community Organizes Help
“We did lose water. We had to step back and do an exterior attack on the fire,” Fiorio said. “Everyone just did everything that we could but the outcome was not what we wanted. It was a chain of events that took place in the first 45 minutes to one hour that adversely affected the outcome.”
When the water pressure was reduced, Fiorio said firefighters had already started to hookup to a hydrant in front of DunbarHeights on Highland Avenue. A broken valve on Marion Avenue proved to be “our biggest nemesis,” according to Peekskill water and sewer director Edward Khuns, who mentioned fire hydrants are checked twice a year.
“That took the winds out of everyone’s sales,” Khuns remarked.
The fire started at about 10:30 a.m. in Apartment 13E on the second floor of the two-story building, but no cause has yet been determined.
Alonzo Thompson, a father of three children who resided in Hudson View Apartments, questioned the Common Council about the loss of water.
“I lost everything. Why wasn’t there enough pressure to go up the hill?” he said. “I still don’t understand how they lost water.”
Linda Lapicola, 71, who is now living in a nearby hotel, also was not satisfied with the answers provided by Fiorio and Khuns.
“The break happened way after,” she said. “I’ve lost my home after 31 years.”
Some residents of nearby Hudson View Estates expressed frustration with having no water for several days and getting inadequate information from city officials.
“We were victims of the post fire. We were not mattered by the City of Peekskill,” said Renee Blyer. “To me this is scary. If I go to take a shower will I wake up with boils on my body. I’m a little disappointed in the City of Peekskill.”
Mayor Mary Foster explained the water advisories given to residents were done by the Westchester Health Department. She also insisted if there was another fire in the neighborhood there was adequate water pressure to tackle it.
“Everyone is looking for answers and we have to find a permanent solution as well,” Foster said. “Our sympathies are to all the families who lost all of their possessions and their homes.”
Rick has more than 40 years’ experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, running the gamut from politics and crime to sports and human interest. He has been an editor at Examiner Media since 2012. Read more from Rick’s editor-author bio here. Read Rick’s work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/pezzullo_rick-writer/
