A compactor fire sent heavy smoke tearing through a Yonkers high-rise Tuesday morning, forcing residents to shelter in place and triggering a partial street closure. Thick smoke filled hallways and reached the upper floors, turning evacuation into a tense ordeal for some tenants. A small number of residents were checked by emergency medical technicians for smoke inhalation.
As reported by News 12 New York, the blaze was first reported at about 7 a.m. at 80 Riverdale Avenue and was traced to the building’s compactor room. Fire officials said the fire extended slightly up the garbage chute shaft, which helped push smoke into multiple floors. The cause remains under investigation, and crews temporarily closed a section of Riverdale Avenue while they worked.
How the Smoke Traveled
Assistant Chief Peter Connolly told News 12 New York, "There was smoke from the first floor up to the sixteenth floor," a spread that explains why many residents were told to shelter in place. Crews checked units and ventilated common areas while firefighters worked to clear smoke and secure the scene.
Residents, Response and Closures
Tenants on upper floors described smoke so thick they could not see down corridors as they evacuated or stayed put in their apartments. A resident on the 16th floor said smoke had already filled the building by the time she left her unit. Emergency medical technicians evaluated a couple of people for smoke inhalation, and there were no reports of serious injuries.
A Worrying Pattern on Riverdale
The compactor fire follows a large April blaze at a different Riverdale Avenue high-rise that displaced families and required a multi-alarm response, raising fresh questions about building maintenance and trash-room safety. See our earlier coverage of the April high-rise inferno.
Fire officials said they will continue investigating, and building managers are expected to conduct repairs and safety checks. This story will be updated as officials release more information.
