Fire had extinguished itself by the time firefighters arrived
MAHOPAC FALLS – Sandra Serrano and her family returned home Saturday evening after a visit to the dog groomer and upon opening the front door of her home on Secor Road in Mahopac Falls, the woman was greeted by thick dark smoke.
Serrano closed the door and immediately called 9-1-1. Mahopac Falls Fire Chief Brian Sacher arrived two minutes later and upon entering the residence confirmed a structure fire resulting in a general alarm for his department as well as mutual aid from the Putnam Valley Fire Department and paramedics from the EM STAR Ambulance Company.
The chief said although the residence was filled with dense smoke “little fire was found since the blaze actually burned itself out prior to the arrival of fire crews.”
Sacher explained prior to leaving, the Serrano family closed all windows and doors and when the fire erupted in the vicinity of the family’s Christmas tree, the oxygen inside the residence became exhausted and the fire extinguished itself.
The interior of the wood frame home suffered major smoke damage and was deemed to be uninhabitable but Chief Sacher said the structure of the home was not impeded.
Cause was attributed to “failure in the lighting system for the holiday tree,” according to the chief.
Also assisting at the scene were members of the Carmel Police Department, Putnam Fire Investigation Team, and Putnam Battalion 16 and 18 Coordinators George Wahlers and Shawn Keeler.
No injuries were reported.
