April 12, 1979 - Smoking in bed may have been the cause of the fire at the Fishkill Inn, Main Street, Fishkill, which took the life of one man early last Thursday morning, according to Fishkill Protection Fire Engine Company Chief Rad Wilson.

The man who perished has been identified as Donald Booth, age 23, who had just moved into the inn within the last two weeks, Chief Wilson said.

Fishkill Inn

Booth had been lying in bed when his body was discovered in his third floor apartment.

The fire was called in a 4:06 a.m. by Robert Woodburn who occupied a third floor apartment across from the deceased. The fire company responded immediately with 30 men and three engines.

In addition to Booth, eight other occupants were in the building at the time of the blaze. With the help of the firemen all escaped uninjured by way of an inside stairway and rear shed roof. Two firemen sustained minor injuries.

According to Wilson, Booth was slightly paralyzed on his left side from a previous car or motorcycle accident, but he had been ambulatory.

Booth's room suffered fire, heat, and smoke damage, while the rest of the third floor was damaged by heat, smoke and water. Wilson added there was water damage throughout the building.

The fire is being investigated by the BCI division of the State Police in Fishkill. According to Wilson, smoke detectors were sounding when the firemen arrived on the scene.