POUGHKEEPSIE – A fire at a two-and-one-half-story dwelling on Garden Street Wednesday morning was caused by an unattended candle left burning by one of the multi-family home’s residents, according to a fire department official. The fire was reported at 10:00 a.m.
The Poughkeepsie Fire Department was dispatched to a Garden Street address for the report of a fire on the roof. At 10:03 a.m. the department’s shift commander was on the scene and confirmed there was an active fire on the roof of the structure. The confirmation brought all of the on-duty Poughkeepsie firefighters to the scene and firefighters from the neighboring Arlington and Fairview Fire Departments to the scene.
A quick interior fire attack was initiated and at 10:33 a.m. the fire was classified as being “under control” by Poughkeepsie Fire Captain Steve Bauer.
“During the investigation, it was determined that the fire had started in an attic exterior wall caused by a candle that had been left unattended by a building resident,” said Poughkeepsie Deputy Fire Chief Vincent Parise.
All residents were able to safely evacuate the structure, and no injuries were reported to civilians or fire personnel.
The building suffered minor fire, smoke, and water damage and it was determined to be “unsafe for occupancy” by the building department. Relief to the tenants will be provided by the Red Cross.
The Roosevelt Fire District responded with an ambulance to the scene because the city’s contracted ambulance provider, Empress, did not have any units available.
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