Smoke alarm sounds for house burning across the street

PATTERSON – Firefighters responded to a 2 a.m. smoke alarm sounding at a home on Cornwall Hill Road in Patterson, but when they arrived on Saturday morning, they realized the fire was across the street at the Buechel home at 986 Route 311.
Firefighters attacked the blaze that had spread to the left side and the basement of the one-story, wood-frame home.
The house sustained significant damage, but was saved from total destruction.  No injuries were reported.
No one was at home when the fire broke out, which Chief Matt Szpindor said allowed the flames to intensify before being discovered.
Residents of Cornwall Meadows, a half-mile away, contacted authorities after being awakened by a strong smell of smoke. One resident called the situation “Very frightening. It smelled like my house was on fire.”
Assisting at the scene were members of the Putnam Lake, Carmel, Lake Carmel, Pawling and New Fairfield fire departments, Brewster State Police, Putnam Sheriff’s Office, Putnam Fire Investigation Team, Dutchess County Arson Squad, Putnam County Battalion 12 Coordinator Ron Davies and the Patterson FD Fire Police.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.