Shortly after 8 a.m. on Monday, February 2, 2004 the City of Middletown Fire Department was alerted for a possible structure fire at the Old O & W Train Station on Wickham Avenue. Units arrived moments later and transmitted a second alarm and requested a FAST Team from Goshen.
Middletown Command (Chief Ralph Parenti) began calling mutual aid from Orange County due to rapidly deteriorating conditions and to ensure adequate water supply and fresh manpower due to the bitter cold temperatures.
Firefighters encountered heavy fire conditions on the second and third floors at the north end of the building. They mounted an aggressive interior attack and managed to contain the fire to that area. Some of the Departments assisting Middletown on scene were: Mechanicstown, Howells, Goshen, Silver Lake, Slate Hill, and Bullville.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Orange County Fire Investigation Unit.
