Updated, more video added. Scroll down.
A YONKERS, NEW YORK, FIREFIGHTER PERISHED this morning at a 3-alarm house fire that has also left two other FF’s hospitalized.
Journal News
The Secret List reported earlier:
(A) Firefighter from the YonkersFD has been killed in the Line of Duty. 2 others Firefighters are reported to have critical injuries. Initial reports are that there may have been a flashover and a forced bailout by the members from an upper floor of what was a 3rd alarm fire. Killed in the Line of Duty was Patrick Joyce, 39, a 16-year member of the YFD. Joyce leaves behind a wife and two children.
The Lower Hudson Journal News is reporting:
Patrick Joyce, a father of two and a 16-year veteran of the department, fell from the top floor of the burning 2 ½-story multi-family home and was pronounced dead at the hospital. Two of his colleagues — another firefighter and a lieutenant — were in serious but stable condition in the hospital, city fire Commissioner Anthony Pagano said.
The 1 a.m. fire at 149 Waverly St. is suspicious, the commissioner said, because it was fully involved in two locations at the home.
The fire was brought under control at 2:30 am. The FD is still working on the incident while investigation is beginning into the fire cause.
WNYW-TV Ch. 5 NYC has this early report from the fire scene that was filed before the death had been announced:
Update, 9:30 am:
WPIX-TV is also reporting:
The three firefighters were investigating reports that there were people trapped on the third floor. No one was trapped on the upper level of the home.
The flames were intense, and it is unclear if the firefighters fell or jumped while trying to exit the third floor.
“We do believe that it was super heated up there,” said Pagano, “And also as you can see behind me, this fire moved within seconds.”
Reports also say two off-duty firefighters were travelling to the Yonkers home at around 5 a.m. to assist with the blaze. They were mere blocks away on Walnut Street when their car crashed head-on with another vehicle. The extent of their injuries is unknown.
The building had been sub-divided into five separate family living units.
WPIX-TV has this more-recent video report:
