TOWN OF POUGHKEEPSIE – Arlington firefighters were dispatched to report of a fire just before 7:30 on Tuesday night. The blaze quickly developed into a fireball that required the City of Poughkeepsie firefighters to assist in combatting the blaze.
The vacant multi-story house at 2738 South Road was engulfed in flames when first responders pulled up. The structure, immediately south of the Holiday Inn, had flames bursting through the roof when firefighters arrived. Set back from the road frontage, a second alarm was sounded bringing Poughkeepsie firefighters with Engine 3 and Tower Ladder 2 to the scene to assist the numerous Arlington firefighters and engines.
As the blaze ravaged the abandoned house, Town of Poughkeepsie Police reduced northbound Route 9 traffic to one lane as firefighters worked to contain the flames.
While guests of the Holiday Inn gathered in the parking lot to watch, Poughkeepsie firefighters put their ladder truck up, dodging tree limbs, to get water on the top of the former home. As flames diminished, firefighters used chainsaws to trim limbs so the ladder could be repositioned.
Arlington Fire Chief Bill Steenbergh, at the scene, said that the fire was located on the second floor and attic of the house. With rapidly deteriorating conditions, the chief said that firefighters used a defensive approach under the direction of Assistant Chief Eric Philipp, the first arriving officer. Arlington firefighters surrounded the structure and streamed water from the ground-level while Poughkeepsie firefighters dropped water from above.
“When I arrived, flames were stretching out of both the north and south gables of the house,” said Philipp. “I immediately requested a second-alarm to keep the personnel safe while controlling the fire.”
Steenbergh noted that this was the second fire on the parcel of land. The first occurred in the spring in a second vacant house that also required assistance from multiple departments.
Thursday night’s fire required Pleasant Valley, New Hackensack, and New Hamburg fire departments to relocate to Arlington firehouses for coverage. Medics from Mobile Life were at the scene in the event of injury to a firefighter. Their services were not required. Central Hudson responded with a crew to secure any electrical issues.
“The cause and origin of the fire are under investigation by the Arlington Fire Investigation team with assistance from the Town of Poughkeepsie Police,” said Steenbergh.
