A 48-year-old woman and five dogs died Thursday in a fire at a multi-occupancy residence in Veteran, a hamlet of Saugerties, officials said.
Li-Anne M. Gableman, who lived in the building and was formerly of Wallkill, was found on the second floor after firefighters entered the building, according to a press release issued by Centerville Fire Chief Mike Ivino and Saugerties Police Chief Kenneth J. Swart Jr.
The fire occurred at 638 Route 212 in Veteran, a hamlet of Saugerties that was formerly known as Toodlum. Ulster County 911 received a report of the fire at about 3:32 a.m. Thursday, with one resident possibly trapped inside, officials said.
Saugerties police arrived to find multiple residents outside the building. Firefighters requested assistance from a firefighter assist and search team from the Glasco Fire Department, and later found Gableman on the second floor. Officials said she had died in the fire.
The cause of the fire is being investigated by the Saugerties Police Department and the Ulster County Fire Investigation Unit.
Structural damage caused by the blaze temporarily halted the emergency response and delayed the start of the investigation, officials said. The building was stabilized by the Dutchess County Special Operations Team, and the fire was contained within 30 minutes.
The building sustained extensive fire, smoke, and water damage.
Police and firefighters remained at the scene until 12:38 p.m. Thursday.
The Centerville Fire Department was assisted by the Glasco, Mount Marion, Ulster Hose, and Saugerties fire departments; Diaz Ambulance; Saugerties Police Department; Ulster County Fire Investigation Unit; Ulster County SPCA; Ulster County Medical Examiner’s Office; Dutchess County Special Operations Team; and the American Red Cross.
John W. Barry is a reporter for The Overlook. Reach him at john@theoverlooknews.com.