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YORKTOWN, N.Y. -- A fire in Yorktown Sunday afternoon left a family of five homeless and killed their four dogs.
While the Mohegan Lake Fire Department and Yorktown Police Department declined to give information about the fire, but LoHud.com reported that six people were injured.
More than 150 firefighters from eight departments responded to the home of Giulio and Maria Eliseo at 3784 Wildwood St., according to LoHud. LoHud said their four dogs are missing and presumed dead.
Brian Avery is being hailed as a hero for saving two people in the fire, according to a press release by Sen. Greg Ball. (R-Pawling)
“Brian Avery is a hero and I commend him for his swift and heroic efforts today in saving two Yorktown residents from a house fire," Ball said. "Brian has volunteered at nearly all of our veterans events, giving back to our veterans and our community. I would like to personally thank Brian, along with the police, fire and EMS first responders, for their heroic efforts. Brian is a hero, and should be commended for his selfless dedication to our community.”
Avery and another man helped Maria Eliseo climb out of a second-story window and down to safety with a 20-foot extension ladder he grabbed from his garage a few houses away, according to LoHud.com.
Eliseo was treated for smoke inhalation at Hudson Valley Hospital Center in Cortlandt, said Adam Cerrato, chief of Lake Mohegan Fire Department, according to LoHud.
Cerrato said three firefighters and two people suffered minor injuries, according to LoHud.
Firefighters found the home engulfed in flames and smoke about 11:30 a.m, according to LoHud. The blaze was unpredictable because of frigid wind gusts as high as 40 mph and a wind-chill factor of 14 degrees, said LoHud.
Carolyn Sherwin of the Red Cross said they were called by Hudson Valley Hospital to offer support.
Sherwin said volunteers were offering emotional support and a mental health volunteer was helping them cope with the loss of their pets.
Sherwin said the family did have insurance and The Red Cross would be helping them deal with insurance.
"They are in excellent hands," Sherwin said.
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