Update: Midland Exit Closed from I-95 due to Fire

Updated 11:45 p.m.: Eleven people, including five children, were displaced in a fire at a three-story building in Port Chester that badly damaged several apartments and two stores.

The fire occurred at 304 Midland Avenue just after 1 p.m. today. The Midland Avenue exit of I-95 remained losed at 11:45 p.m. with fire crews still at the scene.

Firefighters from Larchmont, Mamaroneck, White Plains and Stamford helped the Port Chester Fire Department fight the blaze. The three-story building has apartments on the top two floors and houses Harbor Marine Canvas and the Cafe Roma on the first floor across the street from Midland Plaza.

Heavy, dark smoke, visible from a mile away, billowed from the top two floors as firefighters on the roof and surrounding the building battled the blaze.

Josabel Carcamo, who lives in the apartment building with his wife, said he was at work when the fire started. He said his wife escaped the fire uninjured, but declined to provide further details on the incident. 

Carcamo and his wife will be among four families staying at the Carver Center until they find permanent shelter.

Carolyn Sherwin, a spokesperson for the Red Cross, said the organization “will work with all the families through the recovery process." 

The Red Cross will provide the families with financial assistance to replace items lost in the fire. The organization also will use referrals from outside agencies to find them apartments, Sherwin said.

She said mental health volunteers are available to help the families cope with the aftermath of the fire.

The families are already getting offers for places to stay, Sherwin said. Two of the women who lost their apartments will be staying with friends while they look for a permanent place to live.

Anyone interested in donating to the families can visit http://www.westchestercounty.redcross.org or call 914-946-6500.

Original story: The exit ramp onto Midland Avenue from I-95 was closed by police to keep traffic away from the scene of a fire that destroyed a three-story building in Port Chester.

Smoke coming out of Harbor Marine Canvas was all Village Trustee John Branca could see when he called 911 after 1 p.m. today. Moments later, firefighters arrived.

"At that point in time it was just a little bit of smoke, but then it blew up... 'boom!' It just went crazy," Branca said.

Firefighters from Larchmont, Mamaroneck, White Plains and Stamford helped the Port Chester Fire Department fight the blaze at 304 Midland Ave. The three-story building has apartments on the top two floors and houses Harbor Marine Canvas and the Cafe Roma on the first floor across the street from Midland Plaza.

No injuries were reported. Six families displaced by the fire were offered help by Red Cross volunteers. 

Heavy, dark smoke, visible from a mile away, billowed from the top two floors as firefighters on the roof and surrounding the building battled the blaze. About 100 spectators watched.

Smoke and water damage was done to Da Da Radice, the candy store at 306 Midland that has been a village fixture since the 1930s.

Branca was in Da Da Radice when the fire broke out. "A gentleman came running in saying 'call 911, smoke is coming out of Harbor Marine Canvas,'" he said. He called and then helped store owner Daniel Radice, 80, evacuate from his home, which was behind the store. Branca also evacuated people who had come into the store because the smoke outside was so bad.

Branca said the firefighters arrived moments after he called.

"The response was tremendous," he said.

Police Officer John Bykowski was one of the first on the scene, with Officer Thomas Krempe. By the time they arrived all the people in the businesses had already evacuated, Bykowski said. Climbing the stairs, he found a woman with her baby coming down and escorted them out of the building. 

Josabel Carcamo, who lives in the apartment building with his wife, said he was at work when the fire started. He said his wife escaped the fire uninjured, but declined to provide further details on the incident. 

The City of Rye Police Department issued a traffic alert at 2:03 p.m. advising motorists that Midland Avenue is closed at the Rye/Port Chester border. Residents can check Nixle for more information.