Inspectors Find Illegal Apartments, Landlord Was Repeat Offender

An Olivia Street home that had illegal basement and attic apartments, and the owner didn't comply with inspectors despite citations in 2006 and 2009, according to village hall.

Port Chester firefighters were credited with a quick response that contained the fire and averted disaster. They rushed to the 259 Olivia St. home at 6:20 p.m. and had the fire contained within 10 minutes, preventing it from spreading beyond the basement and part of the first floor.

"The property is balloon construction and would have been lost if not for the prompt and professional response of the fire Department," Assistant Village Manager Christopher Steers wrote in a report compiled after the fire.

Balloon construction is another term for a common type of wood framing used in home construction. The fire was sparked when a worker was "sweating pipes" with a torch in the home's basement, according to authorities.

"Multiple fire code and building code, and zoning code violations were found," Steers wrote in his report.

Tax assessor records show the home was listed as a two-family house. It was previously listed as a three-family structure until 1995, according to the report.

Three families were left homeless by the fire, including a family of two adults and three children; a family of two adults and two children; and a couple who lived in a third apartment, according to Carolyn Sherwin, a spokeswoman for the Red Cross of Greater New York.

"They were all provided emergency lodging and we will be following up with them today pending status of inspection," Sherwin said.

Staff at village hall are drafting an appearance ticket for the landlord, Steers wrote.

Thursday's fire was at least the sixth recent major blaze and code violations.

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