A deadly apartment fire in Poughkeepsie is leaving residents of a multiunit building searching for new housing during a stretch of frigid weather.
The fire broke out Saturday afternoon at 298 Church Street. Firefighters responded to reports of heavy smoke and flames coming from an apartment in the rear of the building.
The City of Poughkeepsie Fire Department confirmed that a body was discovered inside the apartment where the fire originated. The individual, described by neighbors as a man who lived alone, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Cleanup crews were on site Sunday to help residents remove belongings. A restoration company hired by the building’s owner says repairs could take months. One tenant was relocated within the building after flooding caused by firefighting efforts.
The Dutchess County Fire Investigation Team, along with Poughkeepsie police, continues to investigate the cause and origin of the fire.