Lighting blamed for Armonk mansion fire

A lightning strike was suspected to have caused a fire in a multimillion-dollar Armonk mansion.

About 60 firefighters battled the blaze on Hallock Place that started around 10:50 Wednesday night, Armonk Fire Chief Luci Labriola-Cuffe said. No one was injured, but a housekeeper had to flee to safety with the pet cat of the homeowners, who were away.

Labriola-Cuffe told News 12 that authorities suspect the house may have been struck by lightning Wednesday night, sparking the fire.

Part of the roof collapsed at the mansion, which suffered extensive damage, Labriola-Cuffe said. The house had an estimated value of $2.9 million, according to Realtor.com, the website of the National Association of Realtors.

Firefighters from the Banksville, Mount Kisco, Chappaqua, Pleasantville, North White Plains, Pound Ridge, Bedford Hills and Katonah departments assisted in battling the blaze.

Labriola-Cuffe said help was need because the neighborhood lacks hydrants.

"Part of the reason why is that we had to use tanker trucks to get water to the scene," she said.