An electrical issued is believed to be the cause of this morning’s fire at 71 Medway Ave., Congers. / Brian Duddy via Nyack Free Press
CONGERS – Volunteer firefighters said that the efforts of a Congers resident to shovel snow away from a fire hydrant saved precious time when a fire broke out at a home on Medway Avenue on Monday morning.
A Congers resident saw a social media message about shoveling out fire hydrants and took the time to clear a hydrant nearby.
Fire hydrant cleared out by Congers resident / Brian Duddy via Nyack Free Press
Congers Fire Chief Jason DiSalvo said that by simply having quick access to the fire hydrant, firefighters were able to battle a fire that destroyed a backyard shed and was spreading to the home at 71 Medway Ave. Volunteer first responders did not have to shovel out hydrants to make the hose connection.
“It really was a big help to use today,” DiSalvo said of the actions by the Medway Avenue resident who on Monday saw a social media message about shoveling out fire hydrants and took the time to clear a hydrant nearby.
The fire is believed to have been electrical-related, with the incident still under investigation.
Fire destroyed a shed and damaged the siding of a home at 71 Medway Ave., Congers Monday morning / Brian Duddy via Nyack Free Press
DiSalvo said the fire destroyed an 8-foot by 10-foot storage shed near the home. The fire damaged the vinyl siding of the home, but DiSalvo said firefighters were able to prevent the 10:38 a.m. fire from doing serious damage to the home – located a block east of Route 303 in Congers.
About 30 volunteer firefighters from Congers, New City and Valley Cottage fought the blaze. No firefighters were injured.
Courtesy of Bill Demarest at Nyack Free Press. Photos by Brian Duddy.
