Fire Damages Dick’s at Galleria at Crystal Run, Mall Reopens
A storeroom fire at the Dick’s Sporting Goods in the Galleria at Crystal Run on January 6 caused significant fire and water damage, prompting an afternoon evacuation and temporary store closures. No injuries were reported, but the closure of Dick’s and the Target below it raises short-term disruption for employees, shoppers, and nearby businesses while investigators assess the cause and extent of damage.
A fire in a storeroom at the Dick’s Sporting Goods store in the Galleria at Crystal Run in the Town of Wallkill on January 6 forced an early afternoon evacuation of the mall and left one anchor store with significant fire and water damage. Police Chief Robert Hertman said the evacuation was ordered while Mechanicstown, Silver Lake and Goshen firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze. There were no injuries.
The Orange County Fire Investigation team will determine the exact cause; officials described the fire as believed to be accidental. While Dick’s sustained both fire and water damage, the Target store directly below reported water damage. Town officials reopened the mall that early evening, but a robocall from the town notified residents that the two impacted stores would remain closed until further notice.
The immediate effects on Orange County shoppers and employees are concrete: staff at the two stores face at least temporary loss of workplace access, and regular customers will need to adjust plans for purchases and returns. With two major retail anchors affected, mall foot traffic is likely to dip in the near term, which can reduce sales for smaller retailers reliant on anchor-driven visits. Local consumers who rely on the Galleria for goods and services should expect potential delays or rerouting of purchases as managers and insurers assess damage and repair timelines.
Beyond the visible damage, several procedural steps will shape the coming days. The county fire investigation will establish cause and any recommendations for building or operational changes. Insurers and store managers will conduct loss assessments and develop remediation plans, which may include structural repairs, inventory replacement, and business-interruption claims. Depending on findings, the mall may require additional inspections before the two stores can safely reopen.
For residents, the incident is a reminder of public-safety coordination between municipal police and volunteer and career fire departments, as well as the role of county investigators in determining cause and preventing recurrence. Town officials have not provided a timeline for reopening the affected stores; shoppers and employees should monitor announcements from the Galleria and the Town of Wallkill for updates.
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