Local companies respond to Whispering Hills fire

By Ginny Privitar
CHESTER — Local fire companies were part of a massive response to a fire that broke out Friday evening, March 22, in Chester's Whispering Hills community.
No one was hurt. The fire reportedly started in an illegal garage bedroom, although its cause is still unknown.
“When I last spoke to fire investigator, he said fire originated in the garage of 1307," Chester Fire Chief Pat McKevitt said, referring to the resident's unit number. "There was an illegal bedroom in the garage. The inspector was not able to determine cause."
McKevitt said the fire could have been much worse.
"The buildings have a fire wall that runs the length of building all the way up to roof line," he said. "It did its job and kept fire from going into the front units, which received minimal damage. The fire was contained to the garage and went outside (up the wall). It was good the heavy wind didn’t start until late last night. Otherwise it would have blown across the roof, outside the fire wall, which would have caused more damage.”
Heavy smoke filled the valley by the ShopRite plaza and the intersection by Route 17M/Brookside Avenue, near the McDonald’s restaurant and Academy Avenue.
Fire companies respondThe fire was already extensive when firefighters first arrived at the scene.
McKevitt said that, in addition to Chester, responding fire companies were from Goshen, Monroe, Warwick and Washingtonville.
"We had tankers from Florida, Monroe and New Hampton, and due to a shortage of manpower, we had to put the ‘fast team’ from Washingtonville to work," McKevitt said. He called for a second fast team from Circleville and the Silver Lake Fire Department.
The fire was two-alarm, with a couple of extra units. It never went to three alarms.
Companies from Greenwood Lake and Warwick were on standby.
"Each alarm represents pre-set responses," said McKevitt. "A two-alarm is a working fire, and we get an additional three to four engines, tankers, and a ladder truck."
A member of Walton Engine and Hose and her parents were among those displaced by the fire. The Red Cross came and assisted.
Before they left the scene, firefighters escorted homeowners back into their residences to retrieve essentials like medicines, important documents, and a change or two of clothes.