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Cause Of Gap Clothing Warehouse Fire Under Investigation

This story has been updated.

Firefighters douse smoldering "hot spots" at Gap's clothing distribution warehouse off Interstate 84 in Fishkill. Hundreds of firefighters from three counties brought the fire under control about 3 a.m. on Tuesday. The cause is under investigation.

Firefighters douse smoldering "hot spots" at Gap's clothing distribution warehouse off Interstate 84 in Fishkill. Hundreds of firefighters from three counties brought the fire under control about 3 a.m. on Tuesday. The cause is under investigation.

Photo Credit: Contributed

Local fire officials and state police from Troop K held a press briefing at the Gap Northeast Distribution Center at 100 Merritt Blvd. in Fishkill on Tuesday. Here is a video clip from the 7 a.m. conference with news reporters.

Photo Credit: NewYork State Police
An eight-alarm fire raged at the Gap Distribution Warehouse in Fishkill overnight. Firefighters from 20 fire departments in Dutchess, Putnam and Orange counties brought the fire under control by about 3 a.m. on Tuesday.

An eight-alarm fire raged at the Gap Distribution Warehouse in Fishkill overnight. Firefighters from 20 fire departments in Dutchess, Putnam and Orange counties brought the fire under control by about 3 a.m. on Tuesday.

Photo Credit: NBC New York screen grab
The Gap Distribution Warehouse (Building 2) at 100 Merritt Blvd. in Fishkill, off Interstate 84 near Route 9 in Dutchess County.

The Gap Distribution Warehouse (Building 2) at 100 Merritt Blvd. in Fishkill, off Interstate 84 near Route 9 in Dutchess County.

Photo Credit: Google Maps

DUTCHESS COUNTY, N.Y. -- State police, county and local fire officials are investigating the cause of an overnight fire that gutted a Gap Inc. clothing distribution warehouse off Interstate 84 near Route 9 in Fishkill.

About 100 Gap employees safely evacuated from Building 2 after the eight-alarm fire broke out on the second floor of a warehouse about 10:45 p.m. Monday, authorities said. 

One firefighter sustained minor cuts to his lower leg while battling the blaze, which was contained about 3 a.m. on Tuesday by hundreds of firefighters from 20 fire departments in Dutchess, Putnam and Orange counties. 

No one else was reported hurt, according to Capt. Dominick Chiumento of the New York State Police, who spoke at a Tuesday press briefing. "It's still under investigation right now," Chiumento said.

Firefighters continued to use high-rise ladders and water tankers to douse smoldering "hot spots" about noon on Tuesday.

Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro and several other county and state officials were at the fire scene at 100 Merritt Blvd. in Fishkill.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Village of Fishkill with assistance from state police and Dutchess County investigators. According to county officials, the fire was contained to Building 2, an 990,000-square-foot clothing distribution warehouse within the multi-building Gap complex. 

"When the fire is extinguished, they will be able to obtain further information," Trooper Melissa McMorris, a spokeswoman for state police Troop K, said on Tuesday afternoon.

Smoke and flames could be seen from miles away. A local fire chief said the rapidly escalating blaze forced firefighters to switch from "an offensive attack to a defensive attack within seven minutes."

The entire site, which employs more than 600 people and as many as 1,800 at peak distribution times, was taken "off line" because of the fire, according to Colleen Pillus, a spokeswoman for Molinaro.

Molinaro said, “We are grateful to all of the first responders who have been here throughout the night and this morning to ensure all of the employees were able to safely leave the building without injury."

Dutchess County’s Emergency Response Mobile Command Center is on site with members of the county Fire Investigation Division. Pillus said county investigators are assisting the Village of Fishkill’s Protection Engine Co. -- the lead fire agency -- as well as state police -- the lead investigative agency. 

The Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office had a mobile unit on site. Emergency Medical Services' Mobile Life Support and EMStar also responded. Other agencies on site include the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the state Office of Fire Prevention and Control.

"While there is significant damage to (Building 2) and the necessary investigations must all be completed, Dutchess County will do everything within our capability to assist the Gap and its employees to get back up and running at full capacity as quickly as possible," Molinaro said in a press statement.

Pillus said that Dutchess County officials also are coordinating with Gov. Andrew Cuomo's Office and the state Department of Labor's Regional Rapid Response Coordinator to assist any displaced workers.

Check back to Daily Voice for updates.

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