Millbrook man electrocuted

MILLBROOK — Thursday, June 2, at around 5 p.m., Millbrook resident Edward Rochfort was electrocuted after attempting to extinguish a brush fire, which was caused when a downed tree fell on electrical wires, according to the New York State Police. Rochfort came into contact with the downed energized wire in the town of Amenia, along Route 44. The incident occurred between West Lake Amenia Road and Smithfield Valley Road on DeLavergne Hill. Rochfort, 43, died at Vassar Brothers Hospital from injuries resulting from the incident.The brush fire started when the power wires started burning a tree, according to officials.“The tree was in contact with the wire so it started burning at that location,” said Erich Schaefer, investigator of New York State Police, Dover Plains Barracks. “It’s unknown if the wind caused the tree to move slightly or if it was just growing into to it or whatever the situation was, but nothing fell, it just came into contact with it.” A female witness was the first to come across the scene.“While she was attempting to dial 911, the wires broke at the burn site and fell to the ground and in the process struck her car. When the wires did, she proceeded to drive out of the scene to go call 911 from the top of the hill,” said Schaefer.At this point a second witness had entered the scene, joining Rochfort; that witness proceeded to call 911, unaware that the first witness went to the top of the hill to call emergency services as well. Rochfort, at this point, reportedly proceeded to the wooded area on the side of the road, to possibly try to put out the brush fire. That’s when he presumably came into contact with the energized wire, according to Schaefer.Shortly after emergency personnel arrived, Rochfort was taken to Vassar Brothers Hospital in Poughkeepsie, where he died shortly after, according to New York State Police. The power company, meanwhile, had shut off the power to the wire. Schaefer advised people to avoid incidents such as this in the future.“If you come across any sort of downed wires never contact any of the wires — don’t go near them,” said Schaefer. “Wait for emergency crews to come and deal with it. They are trained to know how to deal with those hazards.” Rochfort was well known in the community as someone who was always willing to help out those in need.“What I knew of him was that he was just a good guy,” said Dale Culver, a friend of Rochfort’s “It’s sad to see somebody lose their life trying to be helpful. From what I knew of him he was always caring and helpful, and all I ever heard about him was that he would always do whatever anybody needed him to do to help.”Memorial services were held on Tuesday, June 7, at Allen Funeral Home in Millbrook. The funeral was held on Wednesday, June 8, at St Joseph’s Church, also in Millbrook.