MOUNT PLEASANT - A 3-alarm fire in a Chappaqua mansion Wednesday was caused by an electrical malfunction, Mount Pleasant police said.

The fire started around 4 p.m. and spread throughout the attic of 72 Leroy Road, Chappaqua Fire Chief Greg Bologna said.

Ten people, including a 101-year-old woman, escaped without injury and were being helped by the Red Cross volunteers, said Carolyn Sherwin, a Red Cross spokeswoman. A dog also got out safely.

Firefighters had difficulty knocking down the flames because of the home's location at the top of a long, steep hill and the roof's Spanish tiles, which made it difficult for firefighters to get to the blaze.

At least 10 fire departments responded and spent about two hours dousing the flames in the home that includes more than 11,000 square feet.

"We needed a lot of manpower because it was an interior attack," Bologna said. "That house is huge."

Gator utility vehicles were called in to help take firefighters up the hill to the scene. The Pleasantville and Valhalla ambulance corps set up a rehab area to cool off firefighters as temperatures approached 80 degrees.

"It was stubborn," Bologna said. "It took a while to get it out."

Most of the damage was on the second floor of the house, which had a lot of smoke damage, Bologna said.

News Story and Photos provided by: the Journal News/ Lohud

Chappaqua FD - 2061 (Command) 2062 (Operations) 2063, Engine 144, Rescue 23, Tower Ladder 27, Utility 155

Armonk FD - Car 2021, Engine 286, Utility 52, Utility 82
Bedford Hills FD - Car 2032, Car 2033, Engine 198, Tower Ladder 57 ( F.A.S.T.)
Briarcliff FD - Car 2051, Engine 93 (Relocate)
Croton FD - Engine 119 ( F.A.S.T.)
Hawthorne FD - Car 2191, Utility 97
Katonah FD - Car 2212, Engine 116
Mount Kisco FD - Car 2281, Car 2282, Car 2283, Engine 105
Millwood FD - Car 2251, Car 2252, Car 2253, Ladder 52
Ossining FD - Car 2334, Engine 99, Tower Ladder 42
Pleasantville FD - Car 2371, Engine 91
Purchase FD - Car 2411, Engine 240 (Relocate)
Somers FD - Car 2443, Engine 183 (Relocate), Utility 5, Utility 89
Thornwood FD - Car 2473, Engine 88, Rescue 75 (F.A.S.T.)
Valhalla FD - Utility 59
Yorktown FD - Rescue 16 (F.A.S.T.)
West Harrison FD - Car 2501, Engine 265 (Relocate)
Westchester County - Battalion 16, C&O Zone 4/5, C&O 1404, County Car 4, Utility 106

EMS Units
Chappaqua VAC - 54B2
Mount Kisco VAC - 70B2
Pleasantville VAC - 76B3
Valhalla VAC - 82B1, 8206 (Rehab)
Westchester EMS - 45M2, 4514