WAPPINGERS FALLS – An officer with the Hughsonville Fire Department is credited with noticing a structure fire at a house in Wappingers Falls on Sunday night that displaced five residents, including young children.
The lieutenant radioed in his discovery at approximately 10:22 p.m., indicating that heavy flames were visible at the back of the residence. The Wappingers Falls Fire Department was dispatched, along with New Hamburg, Fishkill, New Hackensack, and Rombout fire departments. The Hughsonville fire department relocated to the Wappingers Falls firehouse to cover any additional emergencies.
Firefighters worked quickly to extinguish the main body of the fire but were forced to spend time opening up the walls of the structure to get to additional smaller fires that were burning behind them.
Medics from Mobile Life Support Services treated one resident for smoke inhalation. The Dutchess County Fire Investigation Division is working to determine the cause and origin of the fire.
The American Red Cross provided emergency aid to the five residents of the house. The occupants, an adult and four children, ages 3, 4, 11, and 15 obtained assistance with shelter, food, and clothing. The Red Cross volunteers have also offered to remain available in the coming days to help those affected by the fire as they navigate the road to recovery, according to the agency spokesperson.
