Lake Carmel liquor store destroyed in arson fire

LAKE CARMEL — The owner of a liquor store that was destroyed by fire early Sunday morning says he was tied up and robbed by four men, who then poured gasoline on the floor and set it on fire.

The fire, which authorities are labeling as suspicious, destroyed the Lake Carmel business early Sunday despite the efforts of more than 100 firefighters from departments in Putnam, Dutchess and Westchester.

The blaze broke out shortly before midnight at the Towne and Country Liquor Store on Towners Road. Fire crews arriving on the scene encountered flames shooting more than 100 feet into the air and Lake Carmel FD officials summoned mutual aid from surrounding communities.

Kent Police said the blaze was of suspicious origin but would not elaborate. However, the owner of the liquor store, Frank Ricca, told a chilling tale of how four men entered his business late Saturday night and after tying him up and stealing cash and merchandise, they poured gasoline on the floor and lit it with a match before fleeing.

Neighbors reported observing Ricca running out of the store with his hands tied with cable wire. Daniel Boylan said he was watching television when he heard someone screaming “fire!” Boylan said he jumped to his window and saw flames and immediately called 911. Boylan said when he approached the owner of the store, “Mr. Ricca was screaming hysterically.”

Ricca was taken to Putnam Hospital Center where he was treated in the emergency room for undisclosed injuries and was later released.

No injuries were reported to emergency responders as fire crews remained at the scene of the inferno until 7 a.m. and were summoned again around 9:15 a.m. when the blaze rekindled.

Assisting Lake Carmel FD personnel were members of the Brewster, Carmel, East Fishkill, Mahopac, Patterson and Croton Falls Departments along with members of the Carmel Volunteer Ambulance Corps.

The Putnam County Fire Investigation Team was also pressed into action along with the Putnam County Fire Police Team under the command of Lt. John Bodor.

Also assisting were Putnam Deputy Emergency Coordinators Mike Hengel and Cris Dellaripa and a representative of the Putnam Bureau of Emergency Services.