A three-alarm fire broke out in a warehouse at 143 Woodworth Ave. in Yonkers on the afternoon of Sept. 2, apparently touched off following the release of hazardous materials. Service on the Metro-North Hudson Line was interrupted and most residents in the area were advised to shelter in place as a cloud of toxic smoke drifted over the area and toward the nearby Hudson River. Some residents were evacuated by police as a precaution. Westchester County Bee-Line buses were honoring Metro-North tickets during the service interruption.
According to information from the Yonkers Fire Department, a fork lift was being used to move boxes and canisters filled with beauty supply chemicals in the warehouse when the forklift caused a rupture and chemical release. The cloud of toxic materials that was released triggered multiple alarms. A fire then broke out, which went to three alarms. Yonkers Fire Chief and Commissioner William Fitzpatrick said that the fire was the result of a chemical reaction. He said that the first fire units on the scene were greeted with a large white cloud coming from the building.
The fire was brought under control at about 4:45 p.m., but smoldering continued. Fire crews were expected to remain on the scene for several hours.
Yonkers police responded to the scene as well as the fire department. Police were checking air quality as were firefighters and some residents were reported to have been evacuated.
Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano said that residents should feel confident at the way Yonkers crews handled the incident.
Commissioner Fitzpatrick said that the wind drove much of the cloud of toxic material toward the Hudson River. He said that there were about a half dozen firefighters who received minor injuries. He said that a lot of materials were tightly packed on pallets that were stacked very high. Yonkers police were assisting Metro-North personnel to determine the air quality that trains going through the area would encounter. Metro-North service was resumed after several hours.
The company European Beauty Concepts is listed as occupying the warehouse.
