Seventeen structural fires in a single night pushed Westchester County to launch a public safety video campaign aimed at helping residents prevent deadly house fires.
The county's Department of Emergency Services released the first of four fire safety videos on Aug. 11, after its 60 Control dispatch center fielded 17 structural fire calls across the county on the night of Friday, Aug. 7. Rye, Harrison and Rye Brook residents can contact their own local fire departments for additional guidance, DES Fire Division Chief Mark Iannucci said.
DES Commissioner Susan Spear said in a news release that the campaign responds to a rise in public inquiries following several fatal residential fires in Westchester this year. The four videos cover kitchen fire safety, bedroom fire prevention, smoke and carbon monoxide detector maintenance, and family evacuation planning.
"There have been several recent severe and fatal fires here in Westchester," Spear said. "These simple tips can save lives."
As we reported Aug. 11, the campaign launch came the same morning Rye, Larchmont and Rye Brook firefighters spent nearly two hours tracing smoke at a dealership on Boston Post Road.
What the videos cover
The first video, released Aug. 11, focuses on kitchen fire safety. Tips include keeping pot handles turned inward, keeping a lid nearby when frying, having a fire extinguisher accessible and never leaving food unattended on the stove.
The remaining three videos, covering bedroom fires, smoke and CO detectors, and evacuation planning, are rolling out in the weeks following the Aug. 11 launch, according to Patch. No specific release schedule has been announced.
How Rye, Harrison and Rye Brook residents can get help
Iannucci urged residents to call their local fire department's non-emergency line for fire safety questions rather than dialing 911. The City of Rye Fire Department, Harrison Fire Department and Rye Brook Fire Department each offer guidance on home fire prevention.
The 60 Control center provides fire and EMS dispatch for 52 fire departments and 28 EMS agencies countywide and handled more than 227,000 calls in 2025, according to county records.
All four videos are available on the Westchester County Government YouTube page.
