Displaced Newburgh Firehouse Fights Yet Another Fire

Newburgh Fire Chief Terry Ahlers said that his department fought a fire at 842 Broadway on Thursday night in the vicinity of one of the firehouses that is temporarily closed for safety reasons. The West End firehouse closure requires that all firefighters and equipment are responding from headquarters, on the east end of the city.

On Thursday night firefighters were dispatched at 11:32 pm to reports of an auto body shop on fire. First arriving units encountered heavy fire venting from the front of the 60' x 65' repair shop according to Ahlers.  The incident commander asked for a second-alarm to be struck bringing neighboring departments to the location for assistance. One hour into firefighting efforts a third-alarm was struck bringing even more manpower and equipment to the fire, including all off-duty Newburgh firefighters.

The City of Newburgh FD was assisted at the scene by firefighters and apparatus from West Point, Stewart Air Guard, Castle Point and Vails Gate fire departments. GoodWill and Coldenham fire departments remained on standby in their quarters in the event they were needed.

Chief Ahlers said that the fire was under control at 2:27 am on Friday with most departments released from the scene at 3:00 am.  Chief Ahlers said that the building is a total loss and is under investigation by the Newburgh Fire Department Fire Investigators.  Ahlers said that it does not appear to be arson and no firefighters or civilians were injured at the blaze.