PHILMONT — One person died in a fire Wednesday evening in Philmont, said Investigator Eric Barnes with the state police Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
The person’s name or gender have not been identified. More information is expected to be released Thursday, Barnes said.
Fire tore through the multi-family dwelling in Philmont on Wednesday evening, according to fire officials.
Columbia County 911 dispatched Philmont and Mellenville firefighters to a reported structure fire at 137 Main St. around 7 p.m. Philmont police arrived at the house first and reported a working structure fire, police said.
Flames and smoke could be seen engulfing the second floor and attic area. As firefighters began attemptig to extinguish the fire, a request was made for mutual-aid assistance from neighboring departments and over half a dozen fire companies responded to Main Street, according to fire officials.
All three floors of the building were damaged by fire or smoke and water, fire officials said. Firefighters were still on the scene several hours after the initial call.
State police BCI, along with New York State Fire investigators, Philmont Fire and Philmont Police are investigating the fire scene, Barnes said.
The case of the fire is not yet known.
Main Street was closed between Maple and Railroad avenues, while fire crews worked.
Other fire companies that responded to the scene, or were on standby at their firehouse, included Claverack, Greenport, Chatham, Hudson and Craryville, according to Columbia County 911.
Assisting at the scene were Greenport Rescue, the Columbia County Fire Coordinator’s Office, Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, and New York State Electric and Gas.