A Mamaroneck family is blaming the nor?easter for the slow response to an elderly fire victim.

Dan Kirsch says his parents smelled smoke at their Knollwood Avenue home around 1 a.m. Monday. According to Kirsch, the alarm company contacted the fire and police departments when the power went out at his parent?s home. Firefighters from West Harrison were first to respond to the fire. Kirsch says it took more than half an hour for them to arrive. Kirsch?s mother was able to escape, but she couldn?t get her husband out. Jack Kirsch, 78, died as a result of the fire.

Dan Kirsch says the flooding problems hampered efforts to rescue his father from the burning home. He hopes that changes will be made in the future to avoid another tragedy.

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