2-Alarm Fire Displaces 8 In Town Of Poughkeepsie

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY — Eight people were displaced Tuesday, July 19 due to a two-alarm fire on Spackenkill Road in the Town of Poughkeepsie. Arlington Fire Chief Tory G. Gallente said units were dispatched at about 10:35 p.m. The first one arrived at the scene within five minutes.

There was an active fire on the second floor of the single family residence, and the fire was declared under control about 15 minutes after the first unit arrived, according to the district's Facebook page.

The people in the home at the time of the fire were alerted by the smell of smoke and got out before the fire department arrived. [Get Patch’s Daily Newsletter and Real Time News Alerts here.]

There were no injuries. Two cats inside the home were also not harmed.

The Arlington Fire District Fire Investigation Division determined the blaze to be accidental and was caused by the failure of electrical distribution equipment.

Gallante said most fatal home fires happen between midnight and 8 a.m. when most people are asleep. Toxic gases and heat, which can reach more than 1,000 degrees, rise and can travel far ahead of the actual flames.

He said when your smoke detector sounds you may have less than 2-1/2 minutes to get out.

Gallante said everyone should have working, properly installed smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and should try to practice exit drills in the home.

“Without an escape plan you have practiced, you may not make it,” he said. “If you don’t have a smoke detector, you risk never waking up.”

Assisting at the scene of the fire were the New Hamburg Fire District, Mobile Life Support Services, Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department, Town of Poughkeepsie Building Department, Dutchess County Dept. of Emergency Response and Central Hudson Gas & Electric. The New Hackensack Fire District, Pleasant Valley Fire District, and Village of Wappingers Falls Fire Department relocated equipment to AFD stations for standby coverage.

Image via Shutterstock.