Geoffrey Wilson

Poughkeepsie Journal

In the aftermath of a three-alarm fire that left 40 residents displaced from their homes, questions arose as to why fire hydrants in the area could not be used to fight the blaze.

Fairview Fire District Chief Chris Maeder said firefighters lost 10 minutes as they worked to establish a water source to knock down the flames at The Arbors, a condominium complex off of Hook Road in the Town of Hyde Park.

Residents of the building and nearby condos gathered to observe the scene. Some watched in silence while others were in tears.

Ten units in the building were destroyed. Residents in 11 other units were displaced temporarily, according to Shawn Winters, managing agent of the Arbors Home Owners Association.

Tyrone Harrison woke up to smoke filling his condo. His front entrance was blocked by the fire, and he had to escape through his patio. Harrison left everything behind as he escaped, and he said he's afraid he lost everything.

"There was so much smoke, I couldn't see my hand," Harrison said. "I tried not to panic, but when you leave your wallet and your phone behind, you're panicked."

Maeder said that while the blaze caused significant damage and broke through the roof of the middle section of a building with three adjoining sections, it was able to be contained with minimal damage to the other sections. It was declared under control at about 11:11 a.m. Wednesday, Maeder said.

More than 100 firefighters assisted with the blaze. Firefighters rescued one occupant inside the building. One firefighter suffered a minor injury while at the scene, but no other injuries were reported, Maeder said.

He said the task was complicated when firefighters learned a nearby fire hydrant was unable to produce enough water to battle the blaze.

Water for the complex is on the Town of Poughkeepsie water system connected through Legion Road, but the connection is not sufficient to provide the water needed to fight fires, Bridget Barclay, executive director with the Dutchess County Water and Wastewater Authority, said. The hydrants in the area are primarily designed for flushing the system, Barclay said.

"It's not a system designed or constructed to provide fire flow," Barclay said.

​Fire hydrants near The Arbors are maintained in part by the authority, while one hydrant on the private property is owned and maintained by the Arbors Home Owners Association, Barclay said. It was unclear which hydrants were unable to provide sufficient water.

As the water supply was insufficient, the Fairview Fire District spent 10 minutes getting tankers to bring water to the scene and setting up a water line across Route 9.

Barclay said the fire hydrants under the water and wastewater authority are inspected twice annually, while Winters said the one private hydrant is checked once per week. Winters said he was not aware of the limitations of the hydrants.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. Maeder declined to answer questions regarding the hydrants.

The condos, built in 1972, are required to have fire alarms, but not sprinklers, Winters said. It is the owner's responsibility to maintain their private alarms, while the Home Owners Association is responsible for alarms in public parts of the complex.

Resident Tom Morris said he "got a phone call from a relative who also lives (in the complex) saying they heard an explosion around 9:40 a.m." Morris said he doesn't live in the affected building, but wasn't sure if his building had sustained some damage.

Elaine Moseley, a resident of The Arbors in a building near the fire, said all she could see was "orange in the sky" as she left her condo.

"It makes me want to go get renter's insurance," Moseley said.

The Mid-Hudson Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross opened an emergency shelter for residents displaced by the fire, offering meals, supplies, emotional support and other necessities, according to a press release. Volunteers with Red Cross will assist displaced residents with recovery plans and temporary lodging, the release said.

Highland, Hillside, Rhinebeck, Hyde Park and City of Poughkeepsie fire crews also were on the scene.

Journal reporter Amanda Fries contributed to this report. Geoffrey Wilson: gwilson@poughkeepsiejournal.com, 845-437-4882, Twitter: Geoff_LW