The fire broke out on Sherwood Road in the Town of Cortlandt during the early hours of Wednesday. Emergency dispatchers received the first call around 2:27 a.m., reporting a residential structure fire that was already spreading fast.
When firefighters arrived, the house was fully engulfed. Thick smoke and flames pushed out through windows and doors, making immediate entry extremely dangerous. Inside were Alina Toone and Jeremiah Toone, both teenagers and children of a Westchester County correction officer.
Two occupants, including their mother, managed to escape the burning home before crews arrived. In the chaos, they alerted responders that the teenagers were still trapped upstairs, turning the scene into a desperate rescue effort.
Firefighters forced their way in using ladders and broken windows to reach the second floor. Visibility was almost zero, and heat conditions were extreme. Despite the conditions, crews located both teens and pulled them out.
The teenagers were found in cardiac arrest and given CPR immediately at the scene. Paramedics rushed them to nearby hospitals, continuing life-saving efforts during transport.
Despite those efforts, both Alina and Jeremiah later died from their injuries. The loss hit the family hard, with officials describing the situation as every parent’s worst nightmare.
Authorities and community members in Westchester County have continued to rally around the family. Investigators with New York State Police and fire officials are still working to determine the cause, with early indications suggesting an accidental electrical issue, though nothing has been confirmed.
