(PJFD photo)
PORT JERVIS – The two structures on Pike Street in Port Jervis that went up in flames in a pre-dawn blaze Tuesday were reduced to rubble by nightfall.
Flames lit up the pre-dawn sky in Port Jervis Tuesday as fire raged through a building at 186 Pike Street in the city. Five upstairs apartments were heavily damaged and the Red Cross was called in to assist the families with locating new shelter. The adjacent building at 188-190 Pike Street, was also heavily damaged.
All of the utilities had been shut off for months because of several major building code violations, Mayor Kelly Decker said.
By Tuesday evening, heavy equipment was brought in and the buildings were knocked down.
The four-alarm fire brought out several fire departments from Orange, Sullivan and Sussex counties. Streets in the vicinity were shut down and school buses were diverted away from the area.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by city and Orange County fire and police investigators.
No one was injured; however, one firefighter was taken to the hospital with an anxiety issue, the mayor said.
The building where the fire started was razed Tuesday night. Adjacent damaged structure was left standing, for now.
(photo: Gavin Burt)
