POUGHKEEPSIE – A fast-moving fire on North Hamilton Street in the City of Poughkeepsie on Wednesday night required firefighters from several departments to converge at the location to extinguish the fire and injured a city firefighter in the process. The fire was first reported at approximately 9:35 Wednesday night at the multi-family dwelling on North Hamilton, near the Family Partnership Center.
Witnesses reported seeing some of the residents leaping from the burning building to escape the heavy smoke and flames.
City of Poughkeepsie firefighters arrived on the scene moments after the 911 call and immediately struck a second alarm, bringing firefighters and apparatus from Arlington, Fairview, and Roosevelt fire departments to assist. A second group of Roosevelt firefighters relocated from their Hyde Park fire stations to city firehouses to provide coverage for the city in case of a second emergency. While battling the fire from both inside and outside of the structure, firefighters discovered a sealed-off room that had allowed the fire to spread quickly to the rear of the building.
With many firefighters in the building combined with the discovery of the hidden spaces, an evacuation tone was sounded, bringing all of the firefighters out of the building for an accountability check. One firefighter was injured while fighting the fire. He was treated by Empress EMS at the scene and transported to a local hospital for evaluation.
Poughkeepsie Fire Chief Joe Franco told that initial accounts show that all occupants had escaped the fire.
The cause and origin of the fire is under investigation.
Firefighters were assisted at the scene by City of Poughkeepsie police officers who maintained a safe perimeter and diverted traffic from the area.
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