Rye, Larchmont and Rye Brook firefighters spent nearly two hours on Aug. 10, tracing heavy smoke at Rye Subaru on Boston Post Road to a failed rooftop HVAC unit.

That same morning, Westchester County launched a fire safety video campaign after a year marked by deadly residential blazes.

County Executive Ken Jenkins announced the campaign at his weekly news briefing, pointing to a busy stretch for fire crews.

"On Friday night alone, the 60 Control communications center at DES dispatched 17 structural fire events throughout the County," Jenkins said.

The Department of Emergency Services produced four Public Service Announcement videos that will roll out on social media over the coming weeks, according to the county's press release. The first, posted Aug. 10, covers kitchen fire safety: keep pot handles facing inward, keep a lid handy when frying, have a fire extinguisher within reach and never leave food unattended on the stove.

The remaining three videos will address bedroom fire prevention, smoke detector maintenance and battery replacement, and creating a family evacuation plan. All four will be available on the Westchester County Government YouTube page.

DES Commissioner Susan Spear said the campaign responds to a rise in public inquiries following several severe and fatal fires this year. Among them: a three-alarm house fire in Lewisboro in April that killed two people, including 93-year-old Noel M. Rae, and hospitalized three others; and a separate blaze in Cortlandt Manor in May that killed two teenagers.

Rye Subaru smoke incident

At about 1:30 a.m on Monday, the City of Rye Fire Department responded to an automatic commercial fire alarm at Rye Subaru, 1175 Boston Post Road, according to myRye.com. Firefighters entering the building encountered heavy smoke they initially believed was coming from the basement.

Unable to pinpoint the source, Rye called Larchmont and Rye Brook fire departments for backup, Rye Record reported. Crews traced the smoke to an HVAC unit on the roof that had suffered an electrical or mechanical failure. They isolated power and used large-volume fans to ventilate the building, clearing the scene by about 3:17 a.m.

The Rye Fire Department noted that a Knox Box on the building's exterior allowed crews to enter quickly without forcing entry or waiting for a key holder. The department urged all commercial property owners to maintain reliable alarm systems and install a Knox Box.

What residents should know

DES Fire Division Chief Mark Iannucci said residents seeking fire safety information should contact their local fire department or DES using non-emergency phone numbers, not 911. In the Rye-Harrison-Rye Brook area, that means the Rye Fire Department, Harrison Fire Department or Rye Brook Fire Department.

The next three PSA videos are expected on the county's social media channels in the coming weeks.