By Dave Lucas
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-1001007.mp3
Poughkeepsie, NY – Three dead after fire tore through a Poughkeepsie home being rented by Marist college students... Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Dave Lucas reports.
Poughkeepsie Police Chief Thomas Mauro says the off-campus house at 112 Fairview Avenue was being rented by six female Marist students. Several entertained guests there Friday night. One group of students stayed the night, while others went elsewhere.
The fire was called in to 911 approx. 1:30 a.m. Saturday. The fire reportedly roared on for more than an hour and a half. Chief Mauro told reporters at a press conference that the students who stayed in the house were apparently in different areas of the 99-year old structure when the fire broke out. Those who managed to escape did so by jumping out of windows.
A preliminary investigation by the Dutchess County Cause and Origin Team determined the fire likely started in the rear of the first floor... A more thorough investigation is underway.
Officials are calling the blaze the deadliest fire to hit Dutchess County since 2001.
Out of respect for the students, Marist College postponed two basketball games: The men's game against Fairfield on Sunday and the women's game against Saint Peter's on Monday.
(Associated Press contributed to this report.)