Large fire in Port Ewen caused multiple injuries and severely damaged two apartment buildings

A two-alarm fire in Port Ewen on Friday evening sent one victim to the hospital with burn injuries, killed a pet and severely damaged two apartment buildings at the Lakeshore Preserve complex, according to the Port Ewen Fire Department.

The blaze was reported around 6:16pm, an a multi-agency response followed immediately. The first fire crews on the scene arrived seven minutes after the call to find two buildings fully engulfed in flames and a third structure under threat. The second alarm was sounded, bringing in additional resources from Esopus, Ulster Hose Company No. 5, the City of Kingston, and Glasco Fire Department.

Firefighters utilized two master stream ladder pipes and multiple hoses to bring the fire under control before it spread to other residences. A fast team from Ulster Hose was deployed immediately, with Glasco providing another rapid intervention team. Firefighters were on scene for around five hours.

Nine residents and four firefighters sustained minor injuries and were treated on-site by Esopus Ambulance. One male resident suffered burns to his hands and was first taken to HealthAlliance Hospital in Kingston, then transferred to Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla for further treatment.

One cat was saved, while a dog died in the fire.

The incident resulted in extensive damage to eight units across two buildings. A third building, housing four units, suffered only minor external damage and is expected to be reparable.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

In total, the response involved Port Ewen Fire Department, Esopus Fire Department, Kingston Fire Department, Glasco Fire Department, Ulster Hose Co. 5, Esopus Ambulance, Ulster County Fire Coordinator’s Office, Ulster County Fire Investigation Unit, Ulster County Sheriff’s Office (including drone support), and the New York State Police. Backup coverage for other area calls was provided by East Kingston and St. Remy fire departments.

The American Red Cross provided financial assistance to 12 displaced individuals. Food was supplied to emergency personnel and affected residents by a local business.