Grace Church St. Home Catches Fire; Living Conditions Possibly Illegal

Investigators are taking a closer look at possibly illegal conditions at a Grace Church Street home that caught fire Wednesday afternoon.

Firefighters were dispatched to 67 Grace Church St. at 5:14 p.m. for a report of a basement fire. Heavy smoke was rising from the rear of the building when firefighters arrived, Lt. James Ladeairous of the Port Chester Police Department said.

The fire spread to the first floor and to part of the second floor, but firefighters were able to bring the blaze under control quickly.

An investigation by the county's Cause and Origin team pointed toward renovation work as the cause of the fire. 

A contractor, Seal It, was hired by the homeowners to seal the building's foundation to prevent basement flooding, possibly in anticipation of this weekend's hurricane. Workers were using a torch to heat the sealant and apply it to the base of the foundation.

When they came to a point where the home's plastic siding was too close to the work area, the siding caught fire, starting a blaze which spread through the walls.

While they reviewed the fire scene, investigators photographed and "unoccupied, illegal basement apartment with a full bathroom, kitchen, living room and bedroom."

They met with inspectors from Port Chester's Department of Code Enforcement, and an investigation continues.

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