A fire in a three-story Newburgh building that spread to neighboring structures, left 33 people homeless Sunday evening

At 9:28 PM on Easter Sunday  the City of Newburgh Fire Department was dispatched to a report of a structural fire on Lutheran Street. Arriving units found the three-story building at 36 Lutheran Street fulling involved in fire, with occupants of the adjoining buildings exiting their homes. Undetectable from the front of the structure, it was discovered that fire extension at the rear of the building had already spread to the two adjoining structures on either side of the original building upon the fire department’s arrival. Engine crews stretched multiple hand lines into each of the structures, while the Truck 1 staff searched for any occupants who may still be in the structure.

At 9:54 p.m., a  third alarm was sounded to bring additional resources to the scene. Fire extension into the roof structures of two additional buildings created additional need for water. Hydrants in this area are of a limited pipe size due to the age of the infrastructure in this area. A fourth alarm assignment brought additional fire resources to aid in accessing hydrants on Carter and Dubois Street to feed the original units that remained operating. 

Mutual aid to the scene was provided by West Point, Air National Guard, Cronomer Valley, Castle Point, Cornwall-on-Hudson, Good-Will, New Windsor and Orange Lake Fire Departments. In addition, Winona Lake, Vails Gate, Cornwall and Plattekill fire companies were placed on standby. Fire command also requested Central Hudson to the scene to cut the power. 

The fire was knocked down and crews were overhauling at 12:43 AM. Newburgh Fire Department remained on scene until 7:00 AM. 33 persons, including three infants were left homeless. The Newburgh Water Department and Central Hudson assisted in the scene and the Newburgh Police transported those in need to the City Recreation Center, where they were met by the Red Cross for assistance. Three persons involved in the original fire building received minor burn injuries. The fire remains under investigation by the Orange County and Newburgh Fire Investigation Units and the City of Newburgh Police.