A fire that blazed through a cottage in the Greenhaven area of Rye and caused significant damage early Sunday morning is now uninhabitable, authorities reported.
Officials responded to 2 Lane Way just before 5 a.m. on Dec. 8 and observed fire and smoke billowing from a part of the vaulted ceiling with no direct access. Because the blaze was tucked away inside the ceiling, firefighters had to “pull down portions of the ceiling” and “cut through the roof” to extinguish it. The incident was deemed contained by about 7:30 a.m.
The Westchester County Cause and Origin Team’s investigation revealed the blaze was caused by an electrical issue.
Nicole Levitsky, a spokesperson for the city of Rye, confirmed with The Record that the cottage’s inhabitants were displaced – but she said she didn’t know how many people had to be evacuated.
“(It) appears this was a rental so they are working with the property owner,” she said via email. “The cottage house is uninhabitable from the extent of the damage.”
Levitsky also confirmed there were no injuries.
“The Rye Fire Department would like to extend sincere thanks to all of our mutual aid partners who responded to the scene or provided coverage for the remainder of the city during the operation,” the Rye Fire Department said in a statement. “The Rye Fire Department encourages residents to prioritize fire safety by having an evacuation plan in place and ensuring that smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working properly.”
This story was updated at 11:32 a.m. on Dec. 9.
Photo courtesy Nicole Levitsky