HYDE PARK – A Wednesday evening fire sent a resident and two firefighters to a Poughkeepsie hospital, killed several pets, and required multiple fire departments to combat the house fire.
The Roosevelt Fire Department was dispatched for a structure fire at 40 Windmill Road in the Greenfields neighborhood on Wednesday, along with the Fairview Fire Department. An engine from Fairview arrived five minutes after the alarm, confirmed that flames were visible, and the men immediately went to work as apparatus and manpower from Roosevelt arrived on the scene.
A second alarm was transmitted, bringing additional firefighters from the Arlington, City of Poughkeepsie, and Pleasant Valley fire departments. Water was pumped from the Greenfields pond nearly half-a-mile up the hill to the fire by fire engines to the apparatus near the fire.
As flames spread throughout the raised ranch, firefighters worked to rescue an elderly woman trapped in her downstairs apartment. The woman was reluctant to leave the raging fire without saving her pets. The woman was removed and the first responders worked to corral the cats while several other firefighters fought the fire.
No occupants in the upstairs residence were home at the time of the fire.
The woman was transported to MidHudson Regional Hospital for treatment. A medevac helicopter was dispatched to the hospital in the event the patient needed to be transported to Westchester Medical Center.
Two firefighters were transported to MidHudson Regional Hospital for minor injuries. Both were released Wednesday night, according to Roosevelt Deputy Chief Jeff Scala.
Firefighters saved six cats from the fire and all were given breathing treatments once removed from the house. Four cats perished in the blaze along with two rabbits and a pet bird. Two other cats are unaccounted for.
The Dutchess County Fire Investigation Division has tentatively determined that the cause of the fire that began in the basement was a result of an electrical malfunction.
The last of the firefighters remained on the scene until approxiately 10:40 pm. Wednesday.
