The Murphy Mailbox at 9 Alice Street.
Photo Credit: Katie HEllmuth

Update: The City of Beacon Fire Department issued a press release describing the fire, how firefighters battled it, and the full identification of the deceased: Eugene (Gene) Murphy, a retired City of Beacon Highway Supervisor, an employee of 30 years.

The fire department published this video of the firefighters battling the fire.

At 6:30pm Tuesday evening (4/15/2025), while the sun broke to open more flowing buds on the trees, a fire raged and engulfed a small home at 9 Alice Street.

When neighbors called to report the fire, they said that people were trapped inside, according to reporting at MidHudson News.

The homeowner, Mr. Murphy, perished, and two other occupants who were cousins of some Beacon residents, were taken to Montefiore St. Luke’s-Cornwall Hospital in Newburgh by Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulances for burns and smoke inhalation.

An ALS ambulance is staffed by paramedics or firefighter/medics, who has additional training to dispense additional treatments to treat a patient when going to the hospital, who is especially in need of cardiac or pulmonary care. They serve as ICUs (Intensive Care Units).

Alice Street is a side-street on the east side of Beacon, near the mountain. The homes range in age, some a century old. Neighbors in the local Beacon NY Facebook Group said they smelled burning rubber, could see the fire from Falconer Street, and others said they saw black smoke from Washington and Spring Streets, and rolling up East Main Street.

According to the scanner, it was a 2 alarm fire, with several agencies reporting, including City of Beacon, Castle Point, Village of Fishkill. Drivers on 9D for the commute home could see the fire engine rushing toward Beacon at that hour. First reports identified it as 12 Alice Street, but it was 9 Alice Street. Glenham and Rombout were on standby.

Ambulnz arrived with additional ALS requested. BVAC requested Medivac. Two helicopters were called to transport victims, but the Mediflight was canceled before it landed, according to one resident reporting from the scanner. People enjoying Memorial Park in the early evening could see the helicopters flying overhead, which use the park as a landing zone in medical emergencies to prepare for transport to area hospitals.

Details of the Fire

The fire looks to have started in the front of the house, spreading to the left and out, scorching the top of the blue car parked in front. The house previously had creme siding, but after the fire, the house was black where the fire burned.

A cream truck parked to the right of the blue car had its hood popped, and the hood of the blue car was completely blown back. All windows from the blue car were gone. The back right tire of the blue car was ripped or flat, which may have been like that previous, or a result of the fire.

The right side of the porch still had siding on it, with some smoke markings, but the left side of the porch was completely charred. The siding on that side of the house had come off, with some heat damage done to the siding of neighboring house to the left.

The front porch and first floor was burned to the studs, as was the second floor and attic. Scanner reports indicated fire on both floors of the house with the attic and both floors "darkened down" while fire fighters searched for people or animals inside.

A black pickup truck parked to the left of the house had its back window blown out, and the drivers side window was shattered in place.

Beacon's City Administrator was observing the damage with other officials at approximately 8:15am Wednesday morning. Cars casually drove past the house all morning to look at the damage and ask about any known details.

Photo Credit All Photos: Katie Hellmuth