By Lana Bellamy
April 9, 2024
NEWBURGH — More than 50 people have been displaced by two large residential fires in Newburgh over the past eight days.
City officials said 24 people were displaced Monday night after a fire on Carter Street burned multiple buildings. It occurred about a block away from a fire on Easter night on Lutheran Street that burned five residential buildings, 32-40 Lutheran St. All the structures were condemned, leaving 33 people, including three infants, without homes, Newburgh Chief of Staff Mike Neppl said.
Monday’s fire was concentrated in two buildings in the city’s historic East End: 59 and 61 Carter St. The first responders to arrive at the scene found both buildings engulfed, with flames spreading through the interiors, according to a news release from the Newburgh city government. An assistant fire chief was the first to the scene and immediately sounded a second alarm for more resources.
At about 12:30 a.m., crews stretched handlines into the buildings and began searching for sources of fire.
Video from the scene showed firefighters aiming hoses at potential hotspots, areas where fire could rekindle, in one of the burned-out, two-story buildings.
Anthony Trujillo, 9, who lives at 61 Carter St., said at the scene, “I was like, ‘Dang, my house just burned down. Where am I going to sleep?’” He said his family would get help from the Red Cross.
That night, he was alerted to the fire by “popping noises” next door. His cousins, who lived in the downstairs portion of the building, yelled out that there was a fire. Anthony said he then woke up his parents and his two older siblings so they could escape.
The fire was deemed under control by 2 a.m. Crews remained at the scene until 7 a.m. to ensure it was completely extinguished, according to the release. One Newburgh firefighter and one resident received minor injuries and were taken to the emergency room at Montefiore St. Luke’s Hospital.
The American Red Cross responded to help the 24 people who were displaced Monday. Newburgh’s fire investigation unit is investigating the cause of the fire, but it is not considered suspicious, according to the release.
Newburgh’s fire department was assisted by city police, Empress Emergency Medical Services, and fire departments at Cronomer Valley, Stewart Air National Guard Base, West Point, Castle Point Veterans Affairs, Coldenham and Cornwall-on-Hudson.
The Red Cross, as well as various city departments, including the planning and executive offices, are also helping those displaced by the Easter fire.
