7 in Lewisboro displaced after fire brings down ceiling

LEWISBORO – Seven people were displaced after a fire ripped through a four-family residence in Vista with such intensity that firefighters rushing in to battle the blaze had to initially retreat after the living room ceiling collapsed in front of them Thursday evening.

"They called us out of the structure for heavy fire on the D-side," Vista fire Lt. Mike Peck said of commanders concerned about the heavy fire coming out from the building's right side. "We ended up backing out."

Crews, including from South Salem, Goldens Bridge and Ridgefield, Connecticut, responded to the scene at 228 Smith Ridge Road about 6 p.m., setting up a pool of water drawn from dry hydrants and a nearby lake to battle the blaze.

"We gave it another push and that's what's left of it now," Peck said as he stood outside the burned apartment unit.

No one was injured in the blaze, although emergency medical technicians were on scene to assist.

Among the residents displaced by the fire was Tanya Accaria, an instructional aide for special-needs students at Fox Lane High School who was driving home when she saw the black smoke billowing in the sky and realized it was coming from her neighbor's unit when she pulled into the parking lot of the rental complex.

"I saw the flames coming out from the kitchen glass doors," said Accaria, who had moved into the complex only months earlier.

Once out of her vehicle, she shepherded a neighbor's dog into her car, to the relief of the dog's owners, who believed the pet was still inside the burning home.

The American Red Cross was called to help the seven displaced residents with lodging and other emergency needs.