NEWBURGH – The fire that raged in the City of Newburgh Sunday night left 33 people, including three infants, homeless. Three other persons involved in the original building fire sustained minor burn injuries.
City officials said on Monday that the fire, which broke out at 9:30 p.m. Sunday, was knocked down with overhaul at 12:45 a.m. Firefighters remained on the scene until 7 a.m. Monday.
Authorities said when firefighters arrived on the scene, they found an abandoned three-story building at 36 Lutheran Street fulling engulfed in flames. Fire extended to the rear of the building and had spread to the two adjoining structures on either side.
The four-alarm brought out area fire departments under mutual aid to provide manpower to fight the flames which shot into the nighttime sky and were seen by residents across the Hudson River in the City of Beacon.
The City of Newburgh and Orange County fire investigation units and Newburgh Police are continuing to investigate the cause of the fire.
Mayor Torrance Harvey said Sunday night while on the scene that it was possible there were squatters in the building.
The Red Cross was called in to assist those displaced by the blaze.
