Orangetown: Cigarette in mulch likely cause of fire at senior complex
Orangetown police and firefighters evacuated people from the burning two-story building; no one was injured
ORANGETOWN — Burning mulch ignited by a cigarette likely caused a raging fire that destroyed more than a dozen apartments at the Cortwood Village senior housing complex, Orangetown police said Monday.
The flames rode up the vinyl siding of unit 52 into the attic, spreading across the roof and into the interior of the structure. More than 25 apartments were evacuated, some by police officers and firefighters after residents either didn't hear or didn't pay attention to the alarms.
"It doesn't take much to ignite the mulch in this heat," Orangetown Police Detective Sgt. James Sullivan said.
Orangetown detectives are waiting for a final report from the Sheriff's Office Bureau of Criminal Investigation's fire unit, Sullivan said.
Mulch is highly flammable and cigarettes tossed into mulch have caused a number of local fires, including a 2014 incident in Congers and a deadly blaze in Carmel in 2013.
The quick response by police and firefighters saved lives during the fire, which was reported about 11 p.m. Saturday. Orangeburg Fire Chief Neil Lynady has said some residents ignored the alarms at first because there had been so many false alarms at the complex, overseen by the Orangetown Housing Authority.
Authorities said 20 of the 24 apartments sustained damage and were uninhabitable. Most of the residents found shelter with their families, said Carolyn Sherwin of the American Red Cross.
Sherwin said the agency helped find a place to stay for six people from five families and provided them with financial assistance for food and clothing.
No residents were injured; Lynady said one volunteer firefighter hurt a shoulder.
More than 55 volunteers from seven departments had the fire under control within an hour.
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