Photo: Getty Images
An investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of a fire that damaged a home on Young America Road in Germantown on Thursday (December 19). When first responders arrived, smoke and flames were visible from the residence. Firefighters from over 20 departments across three counties worked to control the blaze, which was complicated by a downed power line near the house. According to The Daily Gazette, the fire started around 3:30 p.m., and the Germantown Fire Department was the first to respond. The fire's cause remains undetermined, but no injuries were reported. Northern Dutchess paramedic Cacey Simmons confirmed that no one was inside the home during the fire. Firefighters faced challenges accessing water from the Hudson River due to train tracks blocking the route. A National Grid employee was on-site to address the downed power line, which was about 30 feet from the two-story home. The Columbia County Cause and Origin Team is leading the investigation into the fire's cause.