MAHOPAC – A Mahopac couple heading out to an early dinner Saturday noticed a piece of siding fall off their Nicole Way home followed by a puff of smoke and flames shooting from the attic of the two-story residence located in a cul-de-sac off Route 6.
Michael and Marylou DeSiervi immediately called 911 from their car phone reporting their home on fire.
Mahopac Fire Department personnel under the command of Chief William Nikisher rushed to the scene. When a heavy concentration of fire and smoke was observed coming from the upper level of the 3,500 square foot home, calls went out for mutual aid and the Mahopac Falls, Carmel, Somers, Croton Falls, Yorktown and Mohegan Lake fire departments sent manpower and equipment since the area is not serviced by a municipal hydrant system.
Fire crews pressed the Mahopac tower ladder truck into action to attack the upper level of the residence allowing for access to the blaze when other firefighters entered the home and fought the fire from within.
The blaze, which was traced to being electrical in origin, was extinguished before the home received heavy fire damage although the residence was damaged by smoke and water.
Carmel Police Officer Thomas Johanson said the family was extremely fortunate. “Had they left a few minutes before, the fire would have gotten a head start since no one was at home. Luckily for them, that piece of siding melted and fell from the upper level of the residence which alerted the couple as they backed out of the driveway.”
No injuries were reported.
Assisting at the scene were members of the Putnam County Fire Investigation Team, Putnam 16 Battalion Coordinator George Wahlers, crews from the New York State Electric and Gas Company, Carmel Police and a representative of the Putnam Bureau of Emergency Services.
