Squatters blamed for Newburgh fire

Squatters may be to blame for a fast-moving fire in Newburgh this morning, according to fire officials. Inspectors say the fire began in a second-floor bedroom of the house on North Miller Street.

News 12 Staff

Feb 9, 2016, 10:34 PM

Updated 3,242 days ago

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Squatters may be to blame for a fast-moving fire in Newburgh this morning, according to fire officials.
Inspectors say the fire began in a second-floor bedroom of the house on North Miller Street. They say half of a multi-family building is unoccupied and has no utilities turned on.
Officials say the blaze was likely started by a squatter inside and is a reminder of the dangers these abandoned buildings pose. "We have a lot of fires in these abandoned buildings. A lot of fires. We had another fire, same thing, caused by a squatter and a heat source," says Newburgh Assistant Fire Chief John Ryan.
Ryan says half of the building is occupied, and that thankfully there's no damage to the occupied units in the house.