Kent fire called suspicious

By TERRY CORCORAN
tcorcora@thejournalnews.com
THE JOURNAL NEWS
(Original publication: February 2, 2006)

KENT — A fire that leveled a vacant home on Farmers Mills Road is considered suspicious, police said yesterday.

The fire at 721 Farmers Mills Road was reported at 3:03 a.m. Tuesday by a passing motorist. When the first engine from the Kent Fire Department arrived a few minutes later, the house was fully engulfed, Lake Carmel Assistant Chief Ed Schaeffler Jr. said.

Firefighters suspected the house was vacant since there were no cars in the driveway and no signs that anyone was living there. Nonetheless, Schaeffler said, firefighters did their best to make sure no one was inside.

In addition to Kent and Lake Carmel, the Brewster Fire Department sent a crew, and the Carmel Fire Department responded with its ladder truck. The Mahopac Fire Department also assisted, and a Patterson ambulance was on standby. One Lake Carmel firefighter cut his hand, a wound that took 13 stitches to close, Schaeffler said.

Firefighters cleared the scene around 7:30 a.m. The house was reduced to a pile of burned timber. All that remained standing yesterday was a fireplace and an attached chimney.

Police Lt. Alex DiVernieri said the fire is considered suspicious because the house was vacant, and electricity had been shut off. Kent police are investigating with the Putnam County Cause and Origin team.