POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – A major fire erupted Tuesday evening inside the upstairs living quarters of the Poughkeepsie Fire Department’s Station 3, located on Hooker Avenue, causing significant damage to the historic firehouse and prompting a large multi-agency emergency response.
The fire was reported shortly after 7 p.m., and quickly escalated, sending crews racing back across town to protect their own station. The firehouse, known for its distinctive slate roof, has been a fixture in the city’s South Side neighborhood since 1926.
A Fire at the Firehouse
Station 3 is home to Engine 3 and the department’s Rescue unit, and is staffed 24/7 by a team of two firefighters and a lieutenant working rotating 24-hour shifts. On Tuesday night, many of the department’s firefighters were away from the station, attending the National Night Out event at City Hall, supporting the Poughkeepsie Police Department.
Meanwhile, the on-duty crews from all three city fire stations had just responded to a false fire alarm at the Luckey Platt apartment building—a common occurrence at the location—when a new call came into City 911 reporting smoke billowing from Station 3’s upstairs windows.
Firefighters immediately rushed across town to find their own station ablaze.
Multi-Agency Response Contains Blaze
Crews from Arlington and Fairview Fire Departments arrived quickly to assist in extinguishing the blaze. Meanwhile, the Roosevelt Fire Department from Hyde Park sent additional personnel and equipment to Poughkeepsie’s Main Street station to ensure continued fire coverage across the city.
Firefighters battled the flames for nearly 30 minutes, focusing on the kitchen, dining room, and living room areas of the station’s second floor, which sustained significant fire, smoke, and water damage. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
Temporary Housing Plans in Motion
Late Tuesday night, Fire Chief Joe Franco confirmed that his team was working closely with Mayor Yvonne Flowers and City Administrator Joe Donat to develop a temporary housing solution for the displaced crew.
“We are focused on maintaining operations and making sure our firefighters remain safe and ready to respond,” said Chief Franco. Deputy Chief Vincent Parise is spearheading the coordination with city officials to ensure the station can remain operational during repairs.
Despite the damage, the department is committed to continuing service from Station 3 while a more permanent solution is developed.
Investigation Underway
The cause and origin of the fire are currently under investigation. Officials have not speculated on what may have triggered the blaze, but more information is expected in the coming days.
As firefighters cooled off after battling flames in one of their own, the sense of urgency and solidarity among departments was clear.
Station 3’s fire is not just a loss for the department, but for a neighborhood that has counted on its presence for nearly a century.
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