TOWN OF WAPPINGER – The Hughsonville Fire Department battled a fire at a Route 9 strip mall in Wappinger on Monday morning. The 2 a.m. fire damaged several stores at the 1383 Route 9 address, near the Heritage restaurant. Shortly after the fire department was dispatched at 2:06 a.m., state police transmitted that they were on the scene and confirmed the presence of fire at the location.
Within five minutes of being dispatched, the first units of the volunteer Hughsonville Fire Department arrived and reported that flames were burning through the roof of the single-story building that is occupied by a cell phone store, spa, hearing aid store, and an insurance agency. After assessing the scene, Hughsonville Fire Chief Paul Rogers, Jr. requested a second alarm to bring in additional resources and personnel.
Firefighters gained access to each suite and an electrical room to locate the source of the fire which was found to be in the ceiling above the electrical room and the center retail units. The first responders contained the fire with minimal fire damage to all four occupancies while some units also sustained water and smoke damage.
Chief Paul Rogers, Jr. said, “Thanks to the quick action of our personnel and mutual aid partners, this fire was contained to the center of the structure with only minor damage to the businesses within.”
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Dutchess County Fire Investigation Division and is not considered suspicious.
The Hughsonville Fire Department was assisted on the scene by the New Hackensack Fire Department, New Hamburg Fire Department, Village of Fishkill Fire Department, Wappingers Falls Fire Department, Rombout Fire Department, East Fishkill Fire Department, Town of Wappinger EMS, New York State Police, Town of Wappinger Code Enforcement, Town of Wappinger Highway Department and the Dutchess County Department of Emergency Response.
