Fire on Plains Road

Two Walden families without shelter in Saturday fire

By Connor Linskey
Posted 12/30/20

Two families lost their home in an early-morning fire, Saturday, on Plains Road in Walden.

At 2:32 a.m. on Dec. 26, the Walden, Coldenham and Wallkill Fire Departments were dispatched to a house …

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Fire on Plains Road

Two Walden families without shelter in Saturday fire

Posted

Two families lost their home in an early-morning fire, Saturday, on Plains Road in Walden.

At 2:32 a.m. on Dec. 26, the Walden, Coldenham and Wallkill Fire Departments were dispatched to a house on fire at 118 Plains Road in Walden.

Upon their arrival, the firefighters found heavy fire showing from the front of a two-story two-family home. A second alarm was transmitted bringing the Orange Lake, Montgomery and Newburgh Fire Departments, Town of Montgomery EMS, Orange County Fire Investigators and Central Hudson crews to the scene. Additionally, due to lack of water service in this area of the Town of Montgomery, a tanker task force was requested, bringing the Plattekill and Stewart ANG Fire Departments with additional equipment from Coldenham and Orange Lake. A short time later, additional crews from the Bullville and Modena Fire Departments were requested to assist with relief purposes.

“There was heavy fire upon arrival and the guys had a quick knockdown on it,” said Walden Fire Chief Lawrence Sager.

The fire left two families without shelter, one of which received assistance from the local branch of the Red Cross. Scott and Loretta Rizzo along with their daughter Faith Rizzo, a senior at Valley Central High School, awoke to a fire alarm and smoke. Frankie and Sherri Holmes, along with their daughter, Jasmine Holmes, a recent Valley Central graduate who also works at Astoria Hudson in Montgomery, also lost their home. They grabbed their dog, River, and made it to safety before watching their home and all of their possessions destroyed in front of their eyes, the day after Christmas.

There were no injuries reported.

Crews from the Maybrook and Pine Bush Fire Departments manned crews to cover any additional calls in the area during the fire. As of Tuesday morning, the cause of the fire was still unknown.

The Town of Montgomery Community Response Team has come to the aid of both families affected by the fire. Both families have been put up at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Montgomery and the response team is picking up the cost. Montgomery Town Supervisor Brian Maher noted that both families were dejected by the house fire but are thankful that the town has lent them support.

“Each family has different needs and our job will be to assist them in any way we can,” Maher said. “With the funds we raise, we plan to help offset their expenses that insurance may not cover as well as continue to assist with their lodging.”

At this time, the response team is only accepting monetary donations. These donations will go directly to offsetting the expenses incurred by both families. Donations can be made at cfosny.org/our-funds/project-funds/tomstrong-community-response-team/. The Village of Montgomery St. Pat’s Ramble Committee kicked things off with a $1,000 donation.

As of Tuesday morning $72,235 had been raised to help the families.