CITY OF NEWBURGH – Fire damaged the top floor of a three-story brick house at 205 Liberty St. Friday afternoon.

Acting city fire Chief Terry Ahlers said a crew was on the scene within minutes of the 2:30 p.m. alarm. They found heavy fire and smoke on the third floor. The homeowner was the only one in the building, and she escaped safely, Ahlers said.

An off-duty city crew was called to help, and mutual aid companies from West Point, the Air National Guard and Castle Point in Dutchess County also came to the scene. Cronomer Valley and Middle Hope firefighters from the Town of Newburgh were standing by in the city’s quarters.

It took firefighters about 40 minutes to extinguish the blaze. In addition to the damage at 205 Liberty St., there was some minor exterior damage to the building next door, at 203 Liberty St., Ahlers said.

The building can be repaired, but the homeowner would not be able to stay there Friday, Ahlers said. The Red Cross was being called to assist her in finding a place to stay.

The fire is not considered suspicious, but Ahlers said the cause is under investigation.

mrandall@th-record.com