RHINEBECK – Several fire departments battled hot weather while trying to extinguish a house fire that resembled an inferno late Saturday night on Kipp Road in Rhinebeck. The blaze was originally reported around 11:30 p.m.
The Hillside and Rhinebeck Fire Departments responded to the call on Kipp Road and found a house fully engulfed in flames. The house, with more than 2,000 square feet of living space, sits back from the road, which presented a challenge to responding fire apparatus. Due to a lack of fire hydrants, several fire tankers with thousands of gallons of water were summoned to the scene to assist.
A drafting site was established at a nearby pond, according to fire officials. The site allowed the tankers to refill and help get the water to the firefighters trying to battle the blaze.
The fire was declared to be under control at 1:02 a.m., according to Rhinebeck fire officials. Firefighters remained on the scene until approximately 5 a.m. on Sunday to ensure the blaze was completely extinguished.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Dutchess County Fire Investigation Division and Hillside Fire Department.
Fire departments at the scene included Roosevelt, Milan, Red Hook, East Clinton, West Clinton, and the Ulster Hose Company from across the river. The Tivoli Fire Department covered the Rhinebeck Fire District while the Rhinebeck firefighters were at the call.
