WPCNR FIRE DISPATCH. March 15, 2004 UPDATED 9:55 A.M. E.S.T.: All White Plains fire companies and contingents from Fairview, Greenville, Hartsdale and West Harrison responded to a blaze at the Tompkins Manor Apartments at 505 Central Avenue Sunday evening, approximately 6:30 P.M.  bringing the fire under control after several hours. Two persons had to be rescued by a fireman helping them down a hook 'n ladder, under the supervision of Lt. John Donahoe. Residents were still awaiting o.k. from fire personnel as to whether they could return to the North Wing of building as of 8 A.M., according to a resident interviewed in the parking lot. A Fire Investigator was arriving at the scene to determine the cause. WPCNR spoke with Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety David Chong, for the latest on the situation:

AFTERMATH: Tompkins Manor Apartments sit at the foot of Battle Avenue and Central Avenues. This is how they looked this morning. Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety, David Chong, at the scene, said to News12 that there was a lot of smoke damage, no serious injuries, with some persons being treated  for smoke inhalation. Witnesses reported to WPCNR the flames were clearly seen from across the street at Pathmark at 7 P.M. Sunday night. Photos by WPCNR News

Speaking to WPCNR moments ago, Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety David Chong said the fire destroyed three apartments, and that Apartment 409 had collapsed down into Apartment 309. He said that Fire Investigators and inspectors from the Building Department would be on the scene all day today trying to determine if the building is structurally sound to allow residents in the North Wing to return to their apartments.

FIREMEN CONTAINED Blaze to center section. A fourth floor apartment collapsed into a third floor apartment midway through the evening. Photo by WPCNR News

Chong reported there were no serious injuries, with a few suffering from smoke inhalation, including one fireman. Chong said Mayor Joseph Delfino arranged for the residents evacuated to be housed overnight at the Thomas Slater Center and that the Red Cross and the Salvation Army helped out with those arrangements.

Chong commented that Mayor Delfino was instrumentable in calming down and conforting residents evacuated from the building while the fire was being faught.

The Deputy Commissioner praised the Fire Department for their "rapid response and rapid deployment. The Fire Department did a fantastic job of containing the fire to that section of a very heavily populated building."

He said cause and origin had not been determined as of Monday morning.