MONTICELLO – Monticello Manor, an old abandoned hospital and nursing home at 16 High St. in the Town of Thompson, went up in flames early Wednesday morning, July 3 at about 3:30 a.m. Rock Hill Fire Department, Liberty Fire Department and Bethel Fast Team were all called to assist the Monticello Fire Department at the scene. Port Jervis Fire Department was on standby with an engine and manpower at the Monticello Fire Department.

Sullivan Fire Coordinator John Hauschild told the Democrat that the call came in at about 3:19 a.m. on Wednesday morning. He said that all crews returned to service at about 9:45 a.m. as they worked for several hours putting the flames out. 

Both directions at High St. on NY State Route 42 were blocked off as crews worked to extinguish the fire. Northbound traffic was rerouted to East Broadway St. to Rockridge Ave. before returning to NY 42. Southbound traffic was rerouted to Rockridge Ave. to East Broadway St. and then back onto NY 42. 

The fire is currently under investigation by the Sullivan County Bureau of Fire Fire Investigators and the Monticello Police Department, according to Hauschild. The Fire Coordinator also noted that there were no injuries. 

According to several online sources, the New York State Department of Health ordered the closure of the old hospital in 2008, which had been a nursing home since 1979. Health inspectors had found several violations in the building and ordered an evacuation of all residents within 24 hours.