A fire in the hamlet of Wallkill on Thursday night at the former Countryside Cafe & Deli resulted in the loss of 50 percent of the structure.

The Wallkill Fire Department received the first call at 8:25 p.m. and responded to the fire at 33 Wallkill Avenue. Wallkill Fire Chief Nick Walker said the company found flames engulfing the entire structure.

Seven tenants from two second-story apartments escaped unharmed. One firefighter was sent to the hospital for chest pains and a dog died in the fire.

The downstairs contained a commercial building, which was being renovated for a future restaurant. Walker said 50 percent of the structure is a total loss.

The fire started in the rear of the building above what appeared to be a walk-in cooler, Walker said, and spread through the second-story rear apartment before spreading to the front apartment and the attic.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, Walker said.

Fire crews contained the fire within 45 minutes of the first call.

The Shawangunk Valley Fire Department, Walker Valley Fire Department, Modena Fire Department, Plattekill Fire Department, Walden Fire Department and Coldenham Fire Department responded to the fire, while Cronomer Valley Fire Department and Gardiner Fire Department were on stand-by.

“The crews did an outstanding job on a fire that was at certain times hard to get to,” Walker said.