Injured officers recover as new details emerge about fatal Cross River fire

CROSS RIVER, N.Y. - A devastating house fire in the Cross River hamlet of Lewisboro on Thursday, April 16, claimed the lives of two people and left multiple others injured, including two police officers who were hurt while attempting a rescue.

Emergency responders were dispatched at approximately 12:40 p.m. to a residence on Old Shop Road following reports of a structure fire with possible entrapment.

According to authorities, Brett Schlosser, a School Resource Officer assigned to John Jay High School and Middle School, was among the first to take action. While on campus, he noticed smoke in the distance and responded to the scene, where he discovered the fire and called for assistance. After learning that individuals were still inside, he attempted to enter the home but was forced back due to heavy smoke and rapidly intensifying flames.

Officers from the Lewisboro Police Department were also among the first on scene. According to the department, two officers entered the burning residence in an effort to rescue those trapped inside but were immediately met with a dangerous flashover condition. Both officers sustained injuries and were transported to Westchester Medical Center. Officials say both are expected to recover.

The department also expressed gratitude for the swift support shown by local leadership, specifically acknowledging Lewisboro Town Supervisor Tony Goncalves and Town Councilman Rich Sklarin for their immediate and continued assistance to the injured officers and their families.

Fire conditions worsened quickly, prompting a third alarm by approximately 1:15 p.m. as flames engulfed much of the home.

Firefighters ultimately located two victims inside the residence. One, identified as Noel M. Rae, 93, was transported to a local hospital, where he later died from his injuries. A second individual was pronounced dead at the scene; identification is pending further investigation.

According to the Katonah Fire Department, crews responding on mutual aid worked alongside South Salem firefighters to conduct a rescue operation. Firefighters climbed a ground ladder and entered a second-floor window, where they located a victim in a bed. The individual was passed out through the window to waiting firefighters and EMS personnel, who immediately began rendering aid.

Three additional residents were able to escape the home and were transported to a nearby hospital for evaluation.

More than 100 firefighters from multiple departments responded to the scene, including South Salem, Katonah, Bedford, Golden’s Bridge, Bedford Hills, Vista, Somers, Croton Falls, West Harrison, Ridgefield, Danbury, and New Canaan, along with the Lewisboro Volunteer Ambulance Corps and numerous law enforcement agencies. Some crews remained on scene into the early hours of the following morning.

In a statement, the South Salem Fire Department acknowledged the efforts of first responders and the toll of the incident, noting that a police officer remains hospitalized following the flashover. The department also thanked local businesses, residents, and neighboring agencies for their support in the aftermath of the tragedy.

Additional assistance was 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 during the incident was provided by the Mill Plain Fire Department.

The cause and origin of the fire remain under investigation. Authorities say additional information will be released as it becomes available.