Town of Newburgh Police Department requested Cronomer Valley FD at 10:30 pm on Saturday, Sept.16th 2023 to assist in a search for a young girl who went missing that morning. Units assembled and called for additional personnel and equipment from Orange Lake and Winona Lake FD, Good Will FD, Coldenham FD, Plattekill FD, Middlehope FD, Walden FD, Wallkill FD, and Marlboro FD. The area searched around the victim’s residence was heavily wooded with trails and swampland which added to the already difficult task during darkness. Town Police brought a bloodhound in to check for her possible location.  The search was called off at 4 am on Sunday Sept.17th to reconvene later in the day during daylight.

NYS DEC organized a larger search area at Cronomer Valley FD’s fire station with Town of Newburgh PD, Town of Newburgh EMS, NYS Police Aviation, Orange and Ulster Drone Units and local fire departments. Additional Fire Police were called in to regulate traffic in the area as far away as Mechanicstown FD. Rombout FD was called in to cover alarms in Cronomer Valley’s District during the search. Over 70 volunteers and citizens assisted in the search. Over 90,000 social media views which lead to critical information received around 3 pm was instrumental in finding the girl in Fishkill. Thanks to all the volunteers who came out and assisted in this monumental task. Thanks to all the local residents and who let us search their properties and assisted us as well. The incident is still under investigation, but the girl is home safe and healthy.

If you are interested in joining the volunteer fire service and participate in events similar to this or capable of becoming and interior firefighter, feel free to contact the local department where you live by submitting your info at FireInYou.org