Poughkeepsie Fire: 4 Buildings Damaged Overnight

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY — An overnight fire in Poughkeepsie destroyed three multi-family houses on Duane Street, damaged another and left some families without homes.

Poughkeepsie fire chief Mark W. Johnson told Patch the fire was reported at 9:26 p.m. and began in the garage of a house at 13 Duane Street. The fire then spread to the houses at 11 and 15 Duane Street.

Johnson said the houses at 13 and 15 Duane will have to be destroyed because they were left unstable. The house at 11 Duane, he said, also has extensive damage on all three floors.

Johnson said the neighboring building at 1 Gifford Avenue was also had “extensive fire damage on southwestern corner."

Johnson said the buildings' residents were evacuated, and none were injured. One firefighter's leg was injured by a ladder truck, the chief said. That firefighter was taken to Mid Hudson Regional Hospital for treatment and released.

Johnsaid the firefighter had no broken bones or other major injuries.

The cause of the fire is still being investigated. Johnson said it's possible the fire began in the garage of 13 Duane where a barbecue grill was stored.

Poughkeepsie mayor Rob Rolison told Mid Hudson News at the scene of the fire that the city's firefighters' work prevented the fire from worsening.

“This is an enormous fire that could have spread rapidly but was contained by Poughkeepsie’s firefighters who were aided by neighboring departments," Rolison told the publication. "The city is well-served by our dedicated firefighters and I truly appreciate the assistance provided by the neighboring departments.”

Property records obtained by Patch showed the houses were built more than a century ago.

The homes at 11 Duane St. and 1 Gifford Ave. were built in 1890, and the houses at 13 and 15 Duane were constructed in 1900.

On Facebook, the City of Poughkeepsie Common Council said the Arlington Fire District and Fairview Fire District responded to help extinguish the blaze.

To keep firefighters safe from live wires, the Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp. cut power in the area. The council said power outages ranged from the First Ward to the Third Ward.

Police encouraged residents to avoid the area of the fire Tuesday night. The city's police department said on Facebook that electrical service was temporarily turned off in the area for safety.

Johnson said Poughkeepsie firefighters were assisted by fire teams from Arlington, Fairview, and Roosevelt, as well as Mobile Life ambulance service. The department also had additional coverage from Highland, Roosevelt, Arlington and Hyde Park.