Torch ignites house fire

A man reportedly attempting to thaw frozen hunting equipment in the basement of his home accidentally caused a fire that heavily damaged the large two-story structure.

Fire crews from both Putnam and northern Westchester were summoned to the residence on Moore Drive off Route 118 in the Shenorock section of Somers last week.

Somers Fire Chief John Meeker told the COURIeR when he arrived on the scene smoke was pouring from the eaves of the building located at the end of a cul-de-sac with the homeowner, John Zaiser, standing outside.

The chief said first responders entered the building and found the basement fully engulfed with flames extending to the first floor.

Calls for mutual aid were broadcast and firefighters from Mahopac, Mahopac Falls, Brewster, Croton Falls, Mohegan Lake, Bedford Hills, and Yorktown responded.

The chief commended the emergency responders for a job well done since the “only access to the basement was through one door inside the house. The guys prevented the entire structure from going up in flames because of their extensive training and the region’s mutual aid plan.”

Firefighters were forced to break windows throughout the home to ventilate the building. While fire damage was contained to the basement and sections of the first floor, the entire home suffered major smoke damage.

No injuries were reported and fire crews returned to quarters four hours after the initial alarm sounded at 9:30am.

Also assisting at the scene were Putnam Deputy Emergency Coordinator James Ciulla, investigators from the Somers State Police, members of the Westchester Fire and Origin Team, Somers Fire Police personnel, and a representative of the Putnam Bureau of Emergency Services.

—Eric Gross