CATSKILL, NY — August 7, 2026 — A working fire in the basement of the Green Meadows nursing facility in the Jefferson Heights neighborhood was reported to Greene County 911 via an automated alert and several phone calls.

Due to the active fire reports, Catskill Fire Company asked Earlton to be on the quick intervention team and Athens and Hudson to be on fire duty. The fire had been put out, but there was still some moderate smoke in the basement, according to a local sheriff's sergeant who arrived before the fire departments.

Towels that had burned inside a dryer in the basement were discovered by firefighters. Crews started ventilation operations after removing the charred items. There were no inhabitants or patients in the basement.

Athens firefighters were assigned to check the floors above the basement and monitor conditions to help ensure the safety of residents, including those who were bedridden.

Ventilating the large building took approximately 45 minutes, with four to five fans used to remove the remaining smoke.

Fire officials credited the nursing home staff for taking action to extinguish the fire and following the facility's fire procedures. No residents were reported to have been placed in harm's way.

The incident also demonstrated the value of multiple fire-safety measures at the facility, including the automatic alarm system, fire doors and trained staff.

Catskill Ambulance also staged at the scene while firefighters worked at the facility.

The response provided crews with another example of the challenges involved in clearing smoke from a large building after a basement fire.