HOLMES – Fire early Thursday morning displaced three people and two dogs and caused considerable damage to a residence at 610 Route 292 in Holmes.
Pawling Assistant Chief Chris Greene was first on the scene and confirmed the structure fire, evidenced by flames shooting out of the building.
District Fire Chief Everett White responded and while en route, asked the 911 center to ring a second alarm, bringing mutual aid to both the scene and standby in a Pawling firehouse.
Pawling employed their tankers along with one from the Patterson FD to get water to the scene from Holmes Pond. Chief White credited both his department and the mutual aid companies. “Our department and our neighboring agencies did a great job to save the structure this morning.”
White indicated that the structure was not a complete loss because “the firefighters did a great job of averting a complete loss by using the techniques they have learned through constant training. I’m exceptionally proud of the Pawling Fire Department.”
White noted that the blaze was considered under control approximately 90 minutes after being dispatched. In addition to the Pawling and Patterson departments, assistance was provided by Beekman, East Fishkill, and Dover fire departments as well as the Sherman, Connecticut Fire Department.
The cause and origin of the fire are under investigation by the Dutchess County Fire Investigation Division. The structure suffered heavy fire, smoke, and water damage but is not considered a complete loss.
