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A house fire broke out Sunday afternoon in the 100 block of Washington Avenue in Kingston when residents attempted to improperly thaw frozen water pipes. Kingston firefighters responded quickly to the scene after receiving a call at approximately 2:40 p.m. on February 2.
Within just three minutes of the call, firefighters had extinguished the flames and conducted a thorough search to ensure the fire hadn't spread to other areas of the home. Fire officials confirmed the blaze was contained to the initial area, according to Mid-Hudson News.
The Kingston Fire Department issued a warning to residents about proper methods for thawing frozen pipes. They advised that if pipe freezing is suspected, homeowners should consider hiring insured contractors who have suitable heating equipment for the job.
For those handling the situation themselves, the department recommended using hair dryers as a safe option for thawing pipes. Electric space heaters can also be effective when positioned at a safe distance from any combustible materials.
During the response, a second alarm was sounded to ensure adequate coverage throughout the city. Firefighters remained at the scene until 4:30 p.m. to secure openings and drain the boiler and water pipes.
The incident in Kingston echoes a similar situation that occurred last week in Norway, Maine, where a home was damaged after residents used heaters and electrical tape to thaw frozen pipes. In that case, as reported by Ground News, no injuries were reported, though two cats were unaccounted for following the fire.
Ulster Hose Company 5 provided FAST (Firefighter Assist and Search Team) coverage at the scene, while Port Ewen and Esopus fire departments maintained coverage until off-duty personnel returned to service.