Tragedy in Lewisboro: Two dead in house fire

SOUTH SALEM, N.Y. - A three-alarm residential fire on Thursday, April 16, left two people dead and several others injured, according to authorities.

Emergency responders were dispatched at approximately 12:40 p.m. to a home on Old Shop Road for a reported structure fire with possible entrapment.

According to a spokesmen for Westchester County Department of Public Safety, School Resource Officer Brett Schlosser was the first to attempt assistance at the scene. Officer Schlosser, who is assigned to John Jay High School and Middle School, was on campus when he saw smoke in the nearby neighborhood. He drove to the location, discovering the fire and radioing for assistance. After being informed that there were individuals still inside, Schlosser attempted to enter the structure as fire personnel arrived but was unable due to heavy smoke and fire inside. New York State Police and the Lewisboro Police Department were also among the first agencies to respond.

The blaze intensified quickly, prompting a third alarm by about 1:15 p.m. as flames spread through the home.

Investigators said two individuals were located inside the residence. One, identified as Noel M. Rae, 93, was transported to a local medical facility, where he later died from his injuries. A second individual was found deceased inside the home, with identification pending further investigation.

Three additional residents were able to escape the house and were taken to a local hospital for evaluation.

Multiple fire departments including South Salem, Katonah, Bedford, Golden's Bridge, Bedford Hills, Vista, Croton Falls, West Harrison, Danbury and New Canaan, responded to the scene, along with the Lewisboro Volunteer Ambulance Corps and multiple law enforcement agencies. Authorities reported more than 100 firefighters present at the scene, with some crewes remaining on scene until the early hours of the morning.

Assistance was also provided by the Bedford Police Department, Westchester County EMS, the Westchester County Medical Examiner’s Office, the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, and the Westchester County Fire Investigation Unit. Coverage for the South Salem Fire District was handled by the Mill Plain Fire Department during the incident.

The cause and origin of the fire remain under investigation by state and county authorities. Officials said additional information will be released as it becomes available.