Friday the 13th Results in Busy Afternoon for KFD
 
By Ex-Chief Dean W. Pappas
December 13, 2019
 

Katonah Fire Department found itself running all over its district on Friday afternoon. Starting at around 2:20 p.m., KFD was dispatched to an odor of gas call at Weinstein's Pharmacy on Katonah Avenue. Units arriving on scene, including Car 2211, Car 2213, Engine 116 and Ladder 39 discovered a gas leak at the scene. Katonah Avenue was closed down in the area and the building was evacuated while the leak was discovered and rectified by Con Ed. No sooner had Katonah been cleared from that scene when a second call came in for a carbon monoxide alarm on Cherry Street. Units responded directly from Katonah Avenue and were soon on scene, joined by Engine 115. Extremely elevated levels of carbon monoxide were discovered in the house, and extensive venting, opening up all the windows and positioning three vent fans, was undertaken. Additionally, Westchester EMS and Katonah-Bedford Hills Ambulance Corps were both dispatched to the scene. Units were operating for close to an hour while CO levels were brought down to non-life-threatening levels. While units were operating at Cherry Street, a third call came in, for an odor of burning at the Bedford Mews condominiums. Ladder 39 responded from Cherry Street, and Engine 117 responded from headquarters. Additionally, Engine 199, along with Cars 2031 and 2033, responded mutual aid from Bedford Hills Fire Department. The investigation did not reveal any kind of active burn, and all units were put back in service by about 5 p.m. Later in the night KFD was requested to a residence in town to assist with forcible entry for someone who had suffered injuries from a fall and was unable to get to the door.

 
Units: Car 2211, Car 2213, Engine 115, Engine 116, Engine 117, Ladder 39
 
Mutual Aid: Car 2031, Car 2033, Engine 199, KBHVAC. WEMS.