LAGRANGE, NY - A structure fire on January 10, 2010 at about 11:45 was called in by neighbors of this Lauer Road house. Minutes later when LaGrange firefighters arrived they found a large, two story colonial with heavy fire already self venting itself from the roof and several windows.

Firefighters mounted a quick attack to try and minimize the fires destruction. Command requested a second alarm assignment bringing in additional tankers from Beekman and East Fishkill, while an engine each from Union Vale and Arlington were placed on stand-by duty in two of LaGranges three stations. A short while later it was determined that more water would be required due to difficulties in keeping water supplied to the scene and an additional tanker from the Pleasant Valley F.D. was called to the scene.

Firefighters not only had to contend with the fire but with frigid temperatures, a long driveway where the house sat back about 300 feet off the road. Water had to be trucked in from a couple miles away at a hydrant near the LaGrange Town Hall making water supply an issue as many ponds nearby were found to be solid ice. With the road being narrow past the scene the water then had to be delivered one tanker at a time to the scene.

An occupant of the residence had to be treated and then transported to a local hospital for evaluation of possible shock and smoke inhalation by an Arlington ambulance. Operating at this scene were firefighters from LaGrange, Beekman, East Fishkill and Pleasant Valley, along with an ambulance and EMS crew from Union Vale providing stand-by EMS at the scene.

Firefighters remained on scene till the fire was out and investigated about five hours later before all companies were returned to service. Before they left the scene an investigation was done and nothing suspicious was believed to have caused the fire. The house was then pulled down by an excavator due to the lack of strutural stability.