Two-Alarm Fire in Red Hook Claims One Life

RED HOOK, NY - One person died in a fire in a residence in Red Hook on Wednesday morning, April 21st. The Red Hook Fire Company and Tivoli Fire Department were dispatched at 6:47 A.M. to a fire on Rokeby Road in the town, with possible entrapment.

Tivoli Chief Marc Hildenbrand was first on scene, where he found fire coming from the living room along with heavy smoke conditions throughout the rest of the home. Chief Hildenbrand immediately called for a second-alarm, which brought mutual aid from Rhinebeck, Milan and Ulster Hose, along with an advanced life support (ALS) unit from NDP.

Hildenbrand says neighbors pointed out where the bedroom was located and the first crew on scene generated an interior attack. “However, conditions at the residence made it difficult for entry,” Chief Hildenbrand said.

Red Hook Assistant Chief Michael Lane said it took about 25 minutes to get the fire under control. In total, there were close to 50 firefighters on the scene, Lane said. Overhaul and cleanup operations continued until about 12:45 P.M.

“Everything was handled very professionally by everyone on the scene,” said Lane, adding that no emergency responders were injured during the incident.

The name of the deceased has not been released, pending notification of family by the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the Red Hook Police Department and New York State Police. As of mid-afternoon Wednesday, the Dutchess County Fire Investigation Division had not yet released the cause of the fire.