In the fall on 1929, a severe explosion caused several injuries one death, and the outbreak of several fires on Water st near Third st when illuminating gas leaked into the sewer. Many stores were damaged due to the explosion.

In 1954, beside Newburgh Free Academy on Fullerton and South Streets, an oil truck collided with a fire truck and burst into flame. The oil truck driver was killed, and one firemen was critically injured. The other firemen were injured but

Just up the street, the Broadway Theater had bad fires in 1943 and again in 1965. The Beatles movie "Help!" was playing when the last fire broke out. The image of the burning marquee with that film title appeared in Life magazine. The fire destroyed the theater, leaving only an empty lot.