TOWN OF DOVER – A report of a “basement collapse” on Feeney Street in Dover on Wednesday night brought specialized rescue crews and state fire officials to the scene to assist the JH Ketcham Fire Company from Dover in assessing the situation. The reported collapse occurred at approximately 7:50 p.m.
When firefighters from Dover and state troopers responded, they became aware of a language barrier with the occupants of the house who had exited the unsafe building. It was reported that six adults and four children had all relocated outside for safety but rescuers believed that someone may have still been in the building.
Dutchess County 911 alerted the Dutchess County Structural Collapse Team, consisting of professional firefighters from the Arlington, LaGrange, and Poughkeepsie Fire Departments. The request, shortly after 8 p.m. required the Pleasant Valley and Roosevelt fire departments to relocate specific apparatus and manpower to the Arlington fire department headquarters to provide coverage for the crew traveling to the opposite side of the county.
A New York State Fire K9 unit was requested to the scene to search for a person believed to be unaccounted for. The Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office Unmanned Aerial System unit was also requested to bring a drone capable of flying into the basement of the structure with specialized cameras to detect any signs of life.
County officials were working to contact the owners of the house, located at the corner of Feeney and Mill Streets on Tuesday night to obtain residency information.
