PORT JERVIS, NY – Residents of a single-family home were displaced as a result of fire that began in the chimney of their home and spread to the ceilings and attic early afternoon on Saturday, December 6. 

Port Jervis Fire Department arrived on scene within minutes of a resident’s call for help.  At that time, a resident was inside attempting to extinguish the fire himself and was asked to exit the home as firefighters went to work to contain and knock the fire down.

PJFD 1^st Asst. Chief Anthony Fuller placed a second alarm call for help in order to have additional manpower available, but said the fire was a typical chimney fire with nothing out of the ordinary. While the fire did extend out of the chimney and into the ceiling and attic, it was able to be contained to the section of the home near where the fire originated.

Orange and Rockland responded to shut off  gas and electric to home, and the structure’s water supply has been stopped. Residents of the home, as well as their pet cat,  safely exited their home to a nearby home of other family members as the house is currently uninhabitable. 

One resident, who remained on scene, said he was awakened by the smell of smoke and noticed that it was not the typical smell of wood burning in his wood burning stove. He attempted to solve the problem himself but quickly realized he needed to call for help, which he did. 

Units were on scene from Port Jervis as well as neighboring NY, PA, and NJ fire departments.