Early Morning Route 212 Fire Has Claimed The Life Of 1 Person, 5 Dogs Also Found Dead

SAUGERTIES, NY — A tragic house fire has taken the life of a Hudson Valley woman.

The 48-year-old woman died in an early morning fire on Thursday at a multi-occupant residence on Route 212 in Saugerties, according to a joint statement from the Saugerties Police Department and the Centerville Fire Department.

Ulster County 911 received a report around 3:32 a.m. yesterday of a residential structure fire at 638 Route 212. The caller also reported that one resident might still be trapped inside.

Saugerties police arrived shortly after fire and police units were dispatched, confirmed the active fire and located several occupants who had evacuated the home, according to the release.

Centerville Fire's Car 19 immediately requested assistance from the Glasco Fire Department's FAST, or Firefighter Assist and Search Team. As the first fire units arrived, the incident was upgraded to a second alarm. During firefighting efforts, crews conducted a primary search and found a victim on the second floor of the home. The woman had died in the fire, according to officials.

The body was identified as 48-year-old Li-Anne M. Gableman, formerly of Wallkill. Five dogs of various breeds also died in the fire, according to officials.

With assistance from neighboring fire departments, the fire was contained and overhaul operations began within the first 30 minutes, according to fire officials. Emergency operations and the cause-and-origin investigation were then temporarily halted because of significant structural damage at the home.

The Dutchess County Special Operations Team responded to help stabilize the structure, allowing personnel to safely complete site operations and begin the fire investigation. Fire and police units remained at the scene until 12:38 p.m., when all assisting agencies were placed back in service.

The origin and cause of the fire remain under a joint investigation by the Saugerties Police Department and the Ulster County Fire Investigation Unit.

The Centerville Fire Department was assisted at the scene by the Glasco Fire Department, the Mount Marion Fire Department, the Ulster Hose Fire Department, the Saugerties Fire Department, Diaz Ambulance, the Saugerties Police Department, the Ulster County Fire Investigation Unit, the Ulster County ASPCA, the Ulster County Medical Examiner's Office, the Dutchess County Special Operations Team, and the American Red Cross.