Friday, March 30, 2007
Cause sought in fatal fire
2 killed; victims' identities held back by officials
By David Paulsen
Poughkeepsie Journal
CLINTON HOLLOW - Investigators should have a "good sense" today of what caused the house fire northwest of Salt Point that killed two people Thursday morning, according to the Dutchess County Sheriff's Office.
"It's a scene where two people died, and we're going to be very thorough and methodical," said Deputy T.J. Hanlon, a spokesman for the sheriff's office.
Investigators were still looking into the cause of the fire late Thursday, and officials were withholding the victims' identities pending notification of family members.
County property records identify Andrew Papp as the owner of the 2 1/2-acre property. Papp, a retired financial executive, ran for the town board in 2003 as a Democrat, but the slate of incumbent Republicans prevailed in Clinton that year.
The first report of the fire came in at 8:10 a.m., and several fire departments responded to the scene on East Halstead Road between Clinton Hollow Road and Little Wappinger Creek. Early reports identified the blaze as a chimney fire, but it quickly spread to the rest of the house.
Firefighters spent two hours battling flames until the scene was contained enough that fire investigators could begin looking around the debris.
Wayne Castilonia, 61, who lives next door, said he didn't know the Papps well.
Castilonia and his wife, Marie, moved to their home on Clinton Hollow Road about five years ago when Castilonia retired from the Yonkers Fire Department. He said Thursday a passing motorist alerted Marie Castilonia to the fire as she was about to drive out of the driveway. She told her husband, and he called 911.
Wayne Castilonia said he walked over to the house and saw the smoke coming from the chimney and roof.
"There were no flames showing," he said, and he tried to see if anyone was inside by banging on the windows and doors, which he said were hot.
Firefighters arrived soon after. The fire crew set up one truck in the driveway and aimed its water cannon at the house, while tankers and pumpers from several departments shuttled between the fire scene and a town park to relay extra water from the park's pond.
The Red Cross was also at the scene, offering water to firefighters and other services to neighbors.
"It actually worked very well," East Clinton Deputy Fire Chief Tim McCormack said at about 10:30 a.m. when the fire was under control.
McCormack wouldn't speculate on the cause of the fire, but the damage was visibly more severe near the chimney on the east side of the house, where little remained other than charred beams.
The sheriff's office and the Department of Emergency Response are leading the investigation into the cause of the fire.
No other details on the fire or its investigation have been released.
Reach David Paulsen at [email protected] or 845-437-4809
Cause sought in fatal fire
2 killed; victims' identities held back by officials
By David Paulsen
Poughkeepsie Journal
CLINTON HOLLOW - Investigators should have a "good sense" today of what caused the house fire northwest of Salt Point that killed two people Thursday morning, according to the Dutchess County Sheriff's Office.
"It's a scene where two people died, and we're going to be very thorough and methodical," said Deputy T.J. Hanlon, a spokesman for the sheriff's office.
Investigators were still looking into the cause of the fire late Thursday, and officials were withholding the victims' identities pending notification of family members.
County property records identify Andrew Papp as the owner of the 2 1/2-acre property. Papp, a retired financial executive, ran for the town board in 2003 as a Democrat, but the slate of incumbent Republicans prevailed in Clinton that year.
The first report of the fire came in at 8:10 a.m., and several fire departments responded to the scene on East Halstead Road between Clinton Hollow Road and Little Wappinger Creek. Early reports identified the blaze as a chimney fire, but it quickly spread to the rest of the house.
Firefighters spent two hours battling flames until the scene was contained enough that fire investigators could begin looking around the debris.
Wayne Castilonia, 61, who lives next door, said he didn't know the Papps well.
Castilonia and his wife, Marie, moved to their home on Clinton Hollow Road about five years ago when Castilonia retired from the Yonkers Fire Department. He said Thursday a passing motorist alerted Marie Castilonia to the fire as she was about to drive out of the driveway. She told her husband, and he called 911.
Wayne Castilonia said he walked over to the house and saw the smoke coming from the chimney and roof.
"There were no flames showing," he said, and he tried to see if anyone was inside by banging on the windows and doors, which he said were hot.
Firefighters arrived soon after. The fire crew set up one truck in the driveway and aimed its water cannon at the house, while tankers and pumpers from several departments shuttled between the fire scene and a town park to relay extra water from the park's pond.
The Red Cross was also at the scene, offering water to firefighters and other services to neighbors.
"It actually worked very well," East Clinton Deputy Fire Chief Tim McCormack said at about 10:30 a.m. when the fire was under control.
McCormack wouldn't speculate on the cause of the fire, but the damage was visibly more severe near the chimney on the east side of the house, where little remained other than charred beams.
The sheriff's office and the Department of Emergency Response are leading the investigation into the cause of the fire.
No other details on the fire or its investigation have been released.
Reach David Paulsen at [email protected] or 845-437-4809
