This happened at the new ass'y hall in Newburgh NY. It is very close to WT Farms. It always amazed me that more of these accidents didn't occur as the "friends" raced to outdo each other in the building work. Fortunately, no one was reported injured. Was this fire caused by Satan...or was Jehovah sending a message...either answer is right!
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Fire rips through unfinished assembly hall By Kristina Wells
Times Herald-Record
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Newburgh A fast-moving fire tore asunder the aspirations of an entire congregation yesterday.
The Assembly Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses on Route 17K was near completion when the blaze broke out yesterday afternoon and destroyed a significant portion of the building.
Jerry Canfield, town of Newburgh fire inspector, said the blaze appears accidental. Workers using a blow torch somehow ignited the insulation in the roof and the fire spread from there, he said.
"There's a lot of smoke damage throughout the whole building and fire damage to 30 percent of the building," Canfield said, adding that the fire is still under investigation.
The hundreds of volunteers from the congregation who toiled on the hall for more than a year vowed to rebuild.
"It's disappointing because you have many professional volunteers who gave of their time," said Jeff Baker, congregation chair of the construction committee. "We'll certainly be ready to rebuild."
The hall will serve 25,000 Jehovah's Witnesses, Baker said.
All of the workers were evacuated and there were no injuries, Baker said. The volunteers, all skilled laborers and members of the congregation, watched as more than a dozen fire companies and an estimated 100 firefighters put out the fire.
"They're qualified, skilled people. They're real tradesman and they know what they're doing," Canfield said.
The Good Will Fire Department responded to the blaze shortly after 4 p.m. and found the south portion of the hall engulfed in flames. They called for assistance from fire companies in Ulster, Orange and Dutchess counties.