RED HOOK – An electrical fire in the Town of Red Hook late Sunday night left a home uninhabitable. The 911 call came into the Red Hook Fire Company 11:34 p.m. on May 6 for a fire at 36 Spencer Drive off Route 9 in Upper Red Hook. Upon arrival of the first firefighters moments later, heavy smoke and fire was observed coming from the front of the house and kitchen area. The two residents of the home had already safely evacuated, along with their dog.
A second alarm brought additional fire support to the scene. Red Hook was assisted in firefighting efforts and EMS support by volunteers from Milan, Tivoli, Livingston, Clermont, Rhinebeck, and Rhinecliff, with Pine Plains on standby. Northern Dutchess Paramedics and the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office also were on scene.
While fighting the fire, crews experienced a partial roof collapse above the kitchen.
According to Red Hook Assistant Chief Shawn Ball, this forced the operations into a more defensive mode of attack. Despite that, they were able to bring the fire under control in approximately 30 minutes, although operations at the scene continued until almost 5:30 a.m.
Nobody was injured in the fire, One resident and one firefighter were transported to Northern Dutchess Hospital for medical evaluation. The resident, who was sitting in his vehicle when firefighters arrived, was assisted from the property by the Sheriff’s Office before being transferred to an ambulance.
With the home uninhabitable, the homeowners are staying with family.
The Dutchess County Fire Investigation Division determined early Monday morning that the fire was accidental and began in the front porch area of the home.
