Purdy Avenue Fire Gives Port Chester Firefighters Trouble

UPDATE: The building at 106 Purdy Ave. is still closed because electrical service has not yet been restored.

A small electrical fire on Purdy Avenue became a big problem for Saturday, when they had trouble determining where smoke was coming from inside a building divided to house several businesses.

Port Chester Fire Chief Kevin McFadden said no one was injured in the fire, but that two firefighters searching for the source of the fire narrowly avoided falling into a 35-foot shaft that was open and unprotected.

Investigators determine the fire was accidental, caused by mechanical equipment — a compressor.

The fire at . was discovered about 5:30 p.m. Saturday. The building, closed at the time, was filled with thick smoke that poured out from many areas.

However, McFadden said firefighters intially had difficulty finding the source of the fire and determining where to enter the building to put the fire out. As about 50 firefighters swarmed the building, McFadden said firefighters spotted water — from a sprinkler — coming from the Grace Church Street side of the building.

Once inside, firefighters quickly knocked down the small fire. But firefighters who were sent to the second floor of the building narrowly missed falling into a shaft in the building, McFadden said.

“To them, it looked just like a door to another room,” said McFadden.

Because the building had been divided to make room for multiple business, McFadden said firefighters also had trouble finding the shut off valve for the sprinkler system. Firefighters spent more than two hours in their

In searching for the fire, firefighters also cut open a section of the building’s roof.

In addition to calling in Westchester fire investigators, Port Chester fire officials also contacted health officials because the smoke affected food stored in the building.

McFadden said Port Chester buildings and code enforcement officials were checking the site of the fire today.