Sheriff’s Office Investigating Fatal House Fire

On March 5, 2022 at approximately 11:32pm, the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office responded to assist the LaGrange Fire Department on Lakeview Road in the Town of LaGrange for a reported house fire with an occupant trapped.

The first arriving deputy sheriffs and state troopers advised Dutchess County 911 dispatchers of heavy smoke and fire and confirmed the initial reports of an occupant and dog trapped in the house. A neighbor attempted to enter the house to rescue the occupant but due to the fire conditions, neither the neighbor nor law enforcement officers were able to make entry into the house. Upon arrival, LaGrange firefighters immediately began an aggressive fire attack and attempted to locate the occupant.

LaGrange firefighters extinguished the three-alarm fire with the assistance of firefighters from the Arlington, Pleasant Valley, East Fishkill, New Hackensack and New Hamburg fire departments. Once the fire was extinguished, firefighters located a deceased individual and dog inside the residence.

Sheriff Kirk A. Imperati said, “Detectives and fire investigators from the Sheriff’s Office are working closely with members of the Dutchess County Fire Investigation Division, Dutchess County Medical Examiner’s Office and the LaGrange Fire Department to determine what caused this fatal fire. We extend our condolences to the family and friends who lost a loved one and a family dog in this tragedy.”

The origin and cause investigation and the death investigation are both continuing. Additional information may be released at a later time.