The approximately two dozen students displaced have been temporarily relocated.
(Photo: Frank Becerra Jr./The Journal News)
Purchase College: Dorm fire wasn't suspicious
Mark Lungariello, mlungariel@lohud.com 12:28 p.m. EDT September 5, 2016
PURCHASE, NY - Purchase College officials said a four-alarm fire that burned through a dorm Sunday night and displaced two dozen students does not appear suspicious.
“We’ll have the full report in a couple of weeks…until then there is no reason to think it’s suspicious,” Betsy Aldredge, a spokeswoman for the college said.
Approximately two dozen students were displaced as a result of the fire at a building on the campus’ “K-Street.” Firefighters from at least eight departments knocked down the fire after more than an hour. No one was injured.
The displaced students have been temporarily relocated and the SUNY college is looking for permanent quarters for those affected, Aldridge said.
Administrators are planning to hold an information session for the displaced students and their parents that will be closed to the public A clothing and food drive for the displaced students is also being organized, she said.
Purchase firefighter Sam Bornstein on the scene Sunday night told a Journal News/lohud.com reporter that when firefighters arrived heavy flames were already visible from outside. Using three water lines, firefighters fought back the flames in the apartment where it originated and the apartment above it, according to the firefighter.
The extent of the damage to the building was still being assessed.
“We’re just grateful there are no injuries and everyone is accounted for,” Aldridge said. “That’s the most important thing.”
Purchase firefighters with help from several central Westchester departments battle a 4-alarm fire in a dormitory at Purchase College SUNY Sunday night Sept. 4, 2016. All the students living in the dorm were able to escape uninjured. Frank Becerra Jr./The Journal News
Christopher J. Eberhart, ceberhart@lohud.com 10:17 a.m. EDT September 5, 2016
Firefighters from several central Westchester departments assisted the Purchase fire department in battling a 4-alarm fire at Purchase College Sept. 4, 2016. (Video by Frank Becerra Jr./The Journal News)
(Photo: Frank Becerra Jr./The Journal News)
PURCHASE, NY - For more than an hour, firefighters from at least eight fire departments wrestled with a four-alarm fire in one of the dorms at Purchase College late Sunday night.
Purchase firefighter Sam Bornstein, who was one of the first firefighters on scene around 10 p.m., said there was a report of an explosion and heavy flames when they arrived.
Firefighters blasted the fire with water from three lines and were able to contain the fire to the apartment where it originated and the apartment above it, Bornstein said. There were no injuries to students or firefighters.
The cause is still undetermined and remains under investigation.
School officials at the scene declined comment until they had more information.