NEWBURGH – It has been nine months since the explosion and fire that heavily damaged a portion of the Verla cosmetics company building in New Windsor, killing one worker and injuring several firefighters.
Several area fire departments rushed to the scene and when the eight Newburgh city firemen entered the building, there was an explosion and burst of flames that burned several of them and caused other injuries.
Three Newburgh city firemen – two firefighters and one lieutenant – remain out with nerve damage and compressed discs.
Fire Chief Terry Ahlers said there is the possibility some or all of them may not return to active duty in the future.
“The longer it takes, the less it seems likelihood of recovering completely goes down substantially,” Ahlers said. “I don’t want to give up hope for that, but it is a definitely a possibility that they end up not returning.”
The fire and explosion were so intense that it melted firefighter helmets and scorched other gear.
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