Fairview 41-11 & 41-45 and City of Poughkeepsie Engine 57-12 under mutual aid were dispatched to the area of the Fairview Business Park on Fairview Avenue for smoke coming form a building.  On arrival Fairview firefighters found smoke and fire coming from an enclosed structure atop a building in the Fairview Business Park complex,  command quickly ordered a second alarm assignment due to the winds, the building being abandon and vacant, as well as to get enough manpower to attack the fire. The second alarm brought the remaining Fairview equipment and manpower,  along with additional mutual aid to the scene from City of Poughkeepsie with Tower 57-46, Arlington FD 32-52 (FAST), Mobile Life EMS, and Roosevelt FD Engine 63-14,  as well as another Engine from Roosevelt to relocate to Fairview Station.     

Firefighters quickly mounted an exterior attack to this old run down buildings roof top and the fire was brought under control within 30 minutes,  extensive overhaul to be sure no extension was done and to soak the area of the fire well to eliminate any recurring fires. 

The Dutchess County Fire Invesitgation Team was called to the scene to investigate the fires cause and origin.  They were assisted by Town of Poughkeepsie Police with this investigation.

Fairview Avenue in the area of the fire was closed for about an hour and a half while crews used a hydrant across the street for water supply. Traffic was able to return to the area after that and little detoru or delays were resulted from the road closure.  Firefighters were back to their own stations within 2 hours or so after the initial call of the fire,  all crews did an excellent job and extiguished the fire without anyone suffering injuries.

The Town of Poughkeepsie Building Department was called to the scene for notification of a fire at this facility which is under investigation for several building code issues.  The fire is still under investigation and cause will be release at later time.

                                     Crews operate from the Ladder Truck.                                                 Crews had to lay a supply line from Hydrant 500' away.

                                                                                                Firefighters rerack 5" hose after the fire.

The Fairview Fire District was summoned to a report of smoke coming from an apartment in the Hyde Park Terrace Apartment yesterday morning around 11:32 am .  The full structure alarm assignment of Fairview 41-11, 41-45,  City of Poughkeepsie FD Engine 57-12, Roosevelt FD Engines 63-12 & 63-14 and Pleasant Valley Tanker 56-33 were dispatched.  On arrival firefighters found smoke in an apartment and throughout a small portion of the building.  Firefighters stretched an apartment lay line from the street of a 3" feeder line wyed off to a 1 3/4" attack line prepared to confront whatever maybe causing the smoke condition. 

Once in the apartment they found a small smoldering fire in the kitchen area involving a small plastic tub, plastic bottle and some rags with  cleaning solution,  they completed fire extinguishment started by a neighbor using a Dry Chemical extinguisher with an FD Water extinguisher.  Firefighters then were able to check for extension,  finding none and move on to ventilation of the apartment and the sections of the building surrounding the fire apartment. 

Once confirmed that it was a small fire and out,  all mutual aid companies were returned to quarters with exception of City 57-12, which was relocated to Fairview Headquarters for stand-by till Fairview personnel cleared the scene.  One occupant was treated at scene for smoke inhalation and released refusing transport to hospital.

                       Aerial view of the apartment complex.

At 5:10 am this morning, a second alarm of fire was transmitted by City of Poughkeepsie for a working structure fire at 247 Church Street.  Fairview 41-11 responded to the scene initially as the FAST team,  on arrival they were put to work with laying a line into a parking lot off Cannon Street and then setting up a master stream and handline to protect exposures.  City units were then backed up by units from Arlington FD, IAFF Local #2393,  who responded to the scene on a special request with an engine and tower ladder. 

Fire became very intense and doubtful for a little while as the initial structure on fire was fully involved and another on the "B" side became involved also.   Firefighters were able to get a handle on the fire and knocked down with all hands operating. The fire shut down eastbound Rt. 44/55 through the City for several hours through the morning rush hour,  as firefighting efforts continued and a portion of the  fire bulding collapsed into the roadway.

Fairview firefighters were back in service, heading back to quarters around 7:03am,  the fire is under investigation by the City of Poughkeepsie Police and Fire Departments.

   Fire as it looked on arrival of 41-11

The Fairview Firefighters, IAFF Local #2623 Saint Patrick's Day 2012 T-Shirts are in.  We are offering the shirts in short sleeve for $20.00 and long sleeve $25.00.

If you have questions or want to get one, stop by the station to get yours or call us at 452-8770.

An early morning fire on Saturday in the Fairview section of the Town of Poughkeepsie claimed the lives of 3 young adults.  The four on duty staff (3 firefighters and 1 officer) of the Fairview Fire District responded to a Marist College off campus community house at 112 Fairview Avenue for a working structure fire at 136 am.  The crew responded with the normal structure fire assignment of an engine and ladder truck, as well as an additional engine from the City of Poughkeepsie Fire Dept. with another 3 firefighters on pre-arranged mutual aid to the scene.  Upon arrival Fairview firefighters found a  2 1/2 story wood frame structure with heavy fire showing from the rear side of the structure and the report of people trapped.  Firefighters quickly requested a second alarm which brought to the scene all remaining apparatus, as well as call back of off duty Fairview personnel,  any additional volunteers and mutual aid assistance from the Arlington Fire District with their Rescue Truck and FAST team as well as Mobile Life Support EMS with a ALS ambulance to the scene and then Roosevelt Fire District stood by with an engine and ladder truck in the Fairview fire station. A special assignement requesting an additional Engine from City of Poughkeepsie F.D. with manpower to the scene was requested too.

With an initial report of several victims trapped,  firefighters on scene attempted to make an aggressive interior attack on the fire, but were pushed back by the extreme heat and flames.  As additional help arrived they placed several ground ladders up to the building, then firefighters also had to protect an exposure on the left side of the fire building as fire was rapidly growing and melting siding and cracking windows in that exposure building.  At the height of the fire the structure had flames coming from the majority of windows on all floors and the four sides,  with firefighters and sucessive arriving crews putting several handlines,  a portable deck gun and even a ladder pipe were placed in service to attack this fire.   There was also several cars in the rear parking area of the structure that were on fire or in danger of catching fire,  2 were totally consumed fire,  1 partially consumed by fire and 3 others charred by flame and heat.

The fire was brought under control in about 90 miunutes,  then firefighters began the effort of searching for the victims and put out areas of little fire remaining.  There were 4 survivors who all suffered minor injuries in the fire,  which claimed the lives of 3 others. Over the next few hours the 3 deceased victims were while continued overhaul, search,  and fire investigation was being conducted.  The fire has been labeled undetermined at this time by investigators. Fairview firefighters and all other assisting units cleared the scene around 5pm, almost 15 hours later,  some of which didn't get much rest from working this call.  Roosevelt F.D. with their resuce truck and manpower responded to the scene late afternoon to assist with overhaul operations after the investigators were complete with scene investigation for the day. 

The members of IAFF Local #2623 would like to give thanks to the following organizations for assisting on scene or on stand-by;   City of Poughkeepsie Fire Department firefighters (IAFF Local #596),  Arlington Fire District firefighters (IAFF Local #2393),  Roosevelt Fire District, Hyde Park Fire Department,  Mobile Life Support EMS, Town of Poughkeepsie Police, Dutchess County Sheriffs Office, Dutchess County Department of Emergency Response Fire Investigation Division, Coordinators and the Dispatching Staff,  Dutchess County Medical Examiners Office, City of Poughkeepsie Police (for use of their Command Vehicle by Fire Investigators), Town of Poughkeepsie Building Department,  Town of Poughkeepsie Highway Department,  Marist College, New York State Dept. of Homeland Security & Emergency Services Office of Fire Prevention and Control, and Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro & his Office, and lastly the Fairview Fire Co. Ladies Auxilary and the Palace Diner for refreshments & coffee.  We also would like to thank the multiple media outlets that have been covering this tragic fire at this college off campus house.

In conclusion, we would like to express our heartfelt sympathy and condolences to the entire Marist College community and the families of those who lost their lives in this tragic fire.

Finally we would like to offer to anyone that has questions about fire safety to contact us so we may further prevent these events from happening anywhere again.  

   Fire shortly after arrival (Courtesy Photo)                 Firefighters fight fire  (Courtesy Photo)              After shot of house,  before demolition