Puritan Woods Fire Caused by Spontaneous Combustion

Last week's fire on Puritan Woods Road has been ruled an accident, caused by staining supplies stored under a freshly stained deck.

The fire was reported on Wednesday night, and took authorities about two hours to extinguish. Flames from the fire reached as high as 30 feet. An arson team investigated the fire and ruled it an accident, according to Harrison Fire Chief Dino Del Signore.

"What happened is spontaneous combustion with the rags and inside the bag and everything that started the fire and took off due to the fact that the deck had just been stained," said Del Signore. "The whole deck was engulfed, the back of the house was engulfed, it was already in the attic by the time we got there."

When the Harrison Fire Department arrived at the scene there was heavy smoke and heavy fire inside the building, but Del Signore said the fire probably started small and spread quickly because of the flammable materials in the area of the fire.

The owners of the home were able to escape before the fire spread and no injuries were reported as a result of the blaze. Firefighters were able to enter the home upon arrival and rescued a dog from inside, but had to retreat after a roof in the back of the home collapsed.

"As soon as the roof collapsed we got everybody out, regrouped, and started an exterior operation," Del Signore said on Wednesday. "Once we got it knocked out we sent the guys back inside."

The firemen inside the home were on the opposite side of the residence and were not in immediate danger when the roof fell, according to Del Signore. Firemen also cut another part of the roof to gain access to the fire.

The Harrison, Rye, Town of Mamaroneck, Village of Mamaroneck and Port Chester Fire Departments were all at the scene on Wednesday. Two ladders were raised above the home to contain the fire.

The residence, located at 7 Puritan Woods Road, is a two-story, one-family, home. Del Signore called the blaze a two-alarm fire.

Although there is significant water and smoke damage in the home, it is not uninhabitable, according to Del Signore, but will require major repairs.

The investigation of the fire has been closed.