Bomb threat prompts evacuation, search of Orange County Social Services in Newburgh

A bomb threat prompted the evacuation of the Orange County Social Services building at 3 Washington Center in Newburgh, and City of Newburgh Police, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and New York State Police responded to search and clear the facility. The building was evacuated as a precaution, officials said.

The Orange County Office of Emergency Management said 911 received a report of a threat at the social services building, located adjacent to the SUNY Orange Newburgh campus. Responding officers cleared the site and coordinated the precautionary action with county and state partners.

OEM and other officials described the incident as appearing to be isolated, and police were working to identify the caller, Dailymonroe and News 12 reported. A spokesperson for the Orange County Sheriff’s Office told reporters that the investigation remains ongoing while investigators pursue leads.

An Original Report carried an additional official finding, saying officials later said the threat was unfounded; that determination was not accompanied by a named spokesperson in the material reviewed. News outlets covering the incident emphasized both the precautionary evacuation and continuing investigative steps as authorities sought to confirm the origin of the call.

The social services building sits directly next to SUNY Orange’s Newburgh campus. A SUNY Orange spokesperson clarified that the building “is not part of the college campus” and said “there were no disruptions to classes or operations.” Campus officials said instruction and campus services continued without interruption while law enforcement conducted the clearance.

Local reporting noted the evacuation follows two reported bomb scares in 2023 at a nearby county office building on Broadway, just down the street from 3 Washington Center. Those prior incidents contributed to heightened local attention when the threat call prompted the emergency response this week.

City of Newburgh Police, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police and Orange County OEM remain the principal agencies handling the situation. Officials urged that investigative work continue as detectives try to identify the caller and establish whether any charges or further public advisories are warranted. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office said the investigation remains ongoing.