Yonkers FD extinguishes blaze at vacant home frequented by squatters

Battalion One Assistant Chief Christopher Thomas said the fire broke out at 45 Locust Hill Ave.

Jade Nash

Jan 25, 2025, 4:51 PM

Updated yesterday

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Officials from the Yonkers Fire Department are investigating a two-alarm fire that broke out at a Locust Hill Avenue building on Friday night that sent three people to the hospital.
Battalion One Assistant Chief Christopher Thomas said the fire broke out at 45 Locust Hill Ave. He said the building is a large, vacant house that was converted into apartments.
The department started getting calls about the fire around 11:36 p.m. on Friday. When his crews arrived, Thomas said they found "heavy fire" on top floor. It took them over two hours to put the flames out.
Thomas said three firefighters sustained minor injuries. They were sent to an area hospital for treatment. A cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Thomas mentioned that his crews also responded to another fire at the location just last week. That one was deemed as "suspicious."
"We have had issues in the past with squatters going in and out of the building. In the fire on the 15th, there were two squatters that were found in the building during the search of the initial fire," Thomas said.
Anyone who sees strange activity in and or around the area is asked to report it to the authorities.