Investigators look for cause of massive blaze

Investigators seek the cause of a fire that destroyed three buildings and damaged two others in the village.

WAPPINGERS FALLS, N.Y. » Officials continued to investigate a Saturday afternoon fire on East Main Street in the village that destroyed three buildings and damaged two others.

The Mid-Hudson Valley chapter of the American Red Cross said its volunteers provided immediate emergency aid to at least 32 residents of the building after the fire that was first reported in the Rice and Beans Deli on East Main Street at 3 p.m.

There were no reported injuries in the four-alarm blaze that consumed a number of businesses and apartments and shut down the street for hours.

Adam Van Tassel, first assistant chief of the William T. Garner Fire Department, said the fire took four hours to bring under control and firefighters remained on the scene for another three to four hours.

Van Tassel said the fire, which started in the building at 2655 E. Main St., quickly spread to a small loft on the third floor.

“It just progressed very rapidly,” Van Tassel said. “We tried to make an aggressive attack, but the fire growth was just too quick. It pushed us right back out.”

Three buildings containing three businesses and apartments on the western side of the fivebuilding strip were destroyed, while the two buildings on the eastern end received minor damage, Van Tassel said.

He said Sunday morning that the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Another fire official called the fire “devastating” to the village.

“Today, I witnessed one of the worst fires of my life and I’m very sad at what happened in the village of Wappingers Falls,” Dutchess County Legislator Francena Amparo said on her Facebook page. “I want to thank our first responders and all of the fire companies who helped put the fire out. It was long and grueling. You are our heroes today.

“My thoughts and prayers go out to those affected and displaced by this terrible fire.

The village of Wappingers Falls is resilient and we will get through this together. Praise God everyone made it out alive and no one was injured,” she added.

The Red Cross said it provided financial assistance for necessities such as shelter, food and clothing to seven families, including 18 adults and 14 children ranging in age from 6 to 17. Volunteers also offered emotional support and comfort kits containing personal care items.