FISHKILL – The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and
Explosives is activating its ATF National Response Team to assist and
support state and local authorities in their investigation into the blaze
that gutted a portion of one of the two buildings at the massive Gap distribution
facility in Fishkill.
The primary goal of ATF’s response team is to concentrate on ATF
explosives and fire investigative resource and expertise on large-scale
incidents, or on more complex investigations due to the size, scope, or
number of victims as a result of an incident.
All employees were evacuated safely at the time of the fire and only one
firefighter was injured, with a cut to his lower leg.
ATF spokesman Matthew Myerson said the deployment of the National Response
Team does not necessarily mean the fire was arson. The investigation is
in its preliminary stages.
Agents from the ATF New York Field Division’s Arson and Explosives
Group have been on scene since the onset of the incident and have been
assisting with the ongoing investigation.
The ATF’s Forensic Science Laboratory and the ATF Fire Research
Lab are also available to contribute to fire investigations.
A number of state and Dutchess County police and fire agencies are currently
looking into the origin of the fire.
The fire broke out late Monday night and burned into the late morning
hours on Tuesday. Flames shot well into the air and pieces of soot and
debris, some the size of the palm of a hand, rained down on Cold Spring,
some 10 miles away.
