POUGHKEEPSIE – A fire late Monday afternoon has displaced two families from a multi-family house at 68 North Hamilton Street in the City of Poughkeepsie. The fire appears to have started in the first-floor bathroom of the dwelling.
Firefighters arriving on Engine 2 encountered heavy black smoke when they made entry through the front door. Making their way to the bathroom, they encountered a fire that possibly began in a small clothes washer and dryer unit in the bathroom.
After extinguishing the visible flames, firefighters began overhauling the area to see if the fire was out. Their due diligence led to the discovery of wood that was smoldering between the interior walls and exterior siding. Working from both the interior and exterior of the building, the first responders removed the bathroom window and aluminum siding to get water onto the embers, preventing the fire from flaring up again.
Firefighters worked for more than 60 minutes to complete their job. The occupants, who had already evacuated the building, required a translator to communicate with firefighters. Police Sgt. Joe Herring arrived to perform those duties. In addition to Herring, the building inspectors were summoned to the scene to declare the building uninhabitable. Central Hudson workers disconnected the building’s electric supply. The house suffered fire, smoke, and water damage.
No injuries were reported at the scene.
