GERMANTOWN–A family of three was driven from their home at 4349 Route 9G when an electrical fire broke out in an upstairs bedroom, October 23 at 6:22 p.m.
Germantown Fire Chief Mike Lawson told The Columbia Paper that the two-story house belongs to Philip Goodwin, who lives there with his wife and son. The family went to stay with neighbors the night of the fire.
Mrs. Goodwin arrived home Friday evening to the sound of smoke alarms blaring, found the bedroom door hot to the touch and decided to leave it closed. She picked up the family’s cat and exited the house to call 911, said the chief. No one was home when the fire broke out.
Germantown firefighters found heavy fire in the second floor bedroom and hallway when they got there. An attack team was sent in the front door and up the stairs to squelch the blaze, while a second team ventilated the fire through the roof, the chief said.
Though the second floor sustained moderate fire damage and the first floor sustained smoke and water damage, the structure remains sound and is repairable, said Chief Lawson, who noted that firefighters performed an “extensive salvage” operation, moving furniture and appliances to the center of a room and covering them with tarps to spare them water damage.
Livingston and Greenport with tankers and Clermont with an engine were called in to supply mutual aid in case more water was needed.
The Columbia County Cause and Origin Team investigated and determined the fire to be electrical.
Northern Dutchess Paramedics were on the scene, but no injuries were reported.
Chief Lawson credited the attack team with doing an excellent job in knocking down the blaze and saving the house.
About 40 firefighters in all were on the scene.
Units were clear at 10:51 p.m.
Greenport
James D. Reed, 29, of Hudson was charged with second degree burglary and two counts of petit larceny by Sheriff’s Office Investigators Mark Dunspaugh and Anthony Brahm, October 14 at 3:45 p.m.
Mr. Reed allegedly burglarized a Route 23B residence. Arraigned in Greenport Court before Justice Francis Abitabile, Mr. Reed was sent to the county jail in lieu of $5,000 cash bail or $10,000 bail bond. He will return to court at a later date. Deputy Peter Grzeskow assisted in the investigation.
Drugs and alcohol
The following face drug- or alcohol-related charges:
*Angelika Fernandez, 23, of Catskill was charged with driving while intoxicated, operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content greater than .08%, third degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, consuming an alcoholic beverage in a motor vehicle and illegally tinted windows by Deputies Brendan Filli and Reagan Anderson during a traffic stop on Warren Street, Hudson, October 17 at 3:57 a.m.
She was issued traffic tickets directing her to appear in Hudson City Court October 29.
*Jamel Brandow, 26, of Hudson was charged with seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (crack cocaine), driving while intoxicated, operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content greater than .08%, second degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, failure to keep right, failure to notify the Department of Motor Vehicles about an address change and operating a motor vehicle without a license by Deputies Brendan Filli and Reagan Anderson during a traffic stop on Route 9, Valatie, October 18 at 2:07 a.m.
Mr. Brandow was released with tickets directing him to appear in Valatie Village Court November 5.
*David Heimroth, 36, of Kinderhook was charged with driving while intoxicated, aggravated driving while intoxicated, inadequate plate lamp and failure to keep right by Deputies Brendan Filli and Reagan Anderson during a traffic stop on Route 203, Kinderhook, October 26 at 1:25 a.m.
Mr. Heimroth was released with tickets returnable in Kinderhook Town Court November 10.
To contact Diane Valden email