On December 12, 2025, at 8:22 PM, multiple calls poured into the city of Albany’s emergency communication center for a reported structure fire with smoking fire coming from the back of the house at 13 Garfield Place. Engine one, engine seven, engine ten, truck three, truck two, rescue one, the rescue squad, the battalion chief and Mohawk Ambulance Service. As multiple units were responding to the scene, the Police Department arrived on scene with heavy fire in the rear of the structure with multiple buildings involved and officers began to evacuate the structures.

The battalion chief transmitted the signal thirty based upon the information of their arrival report of the officers. Engine seven arrived on scene and immediately confirmed they had heavy fire on both sides of the structure with multiple exposure issues from houses on both sides of the main fire building and requested the second alarm to be transmitted. Engine seven‘s officer was able to confirm that both exposure buildings were now on fire and firefighters were making sure everybody was out of the structures. Engine two, engine eleven, truck four, and rescue two responded to the scene on the second alarm. Firefighters immediately began to establish a water supply from a nearby hydrant as they had heavy fire pushing over the rear of the house. Firefighters deployed an inch and three-quarter hand line into the main structure and to the rear of the building. Firefighters began to conduct an aggressive knockdown of the heavy fire condition in the rear of the building.

As firefighters continued to work in the rear of the building heavy smoke began to push from the attic areas of the three fire buildings. Additional firefighters made their way inside of the structure and began to conduct primary searches of the three fire buildings to assure that everybody was out of the buildings. The next arriving engine took the next street over and established the water supply in the rear of the building. Firefighters deployed a 2 1/2-inch hand line to the rear of the building and began to knock down the heavy fire condition. Firefighters had fire in 15, 17, and 19 Garfield Place. Firefighters in the primary fire building notified command that they had heavy fire in the primary fire building with a structural compromise of the rear porches and requested an additional hand line into the building.

Firefighters in 15 Garfield Place notified command that the primary search had been conducted and was negative and firefighters were beginning to deploy a hand line into the structure. Firefighters in the primary fire building began to search the second floor but was forced out of the second floor as they had extremely high heat heavy smoke and fire rolling over their heads. Command requested truck one to the scene to provide a rapid intervention crew for the fire scene. due to the exposure issues in 19 Garfield Place and firefighters checked 21 Garfield Place for any extension. Command notified firefighters operating on the second floor of 17 Garfield Place that they have heavy fire visible from the outside of the structure and heavy smoke pushing from the attic. Firefighters on the second floor after that transmission was done notified command that the second-floor ceiling collapsed inside of the structure and they had heavy fire above them. Command notified the dispatcher that they had heavy smoke and fire from all three structures.

An additional engine company arriving on scene was able to secure another nearby hydrant establishing another water supply for the scene. Mohawk Ambulance Service notified command that they were transporting one victim from the scene to the hospital. Firefighters continue to make an aggressive push inside of the structure but still had heavy smoke pushing from the attic areas of the structures along with a significant fire condition on the Delta and Charlie sides of the structures. Command requested mutual aid from the city of Watervliet’s Fire Department, Green Island Fire Department, and Watervliet Arsenal Fire Department to come into the city to assist with handling calls. Additional personnel arrived on scene and established a rapid intervention crew for the scene in the front of the structure.

As cruise continued to work inside of the additional exposure building, firefighters evacuated the structure as they had heavy fire conditions above them in the attic area and traveling in the walls. Firefighters safely evacuated out of the structure and made contact with command. Firefighters in the main fire building evacuated the structure also as they had heavy fire and smoke in the attic and heavy black turbulence smoke was pushing from the vent hole in the front of the structure. Firefighters in the rear of the building notified command that they had heavy fire in the rear of the structure and command ordered the evacuation of the structure and all crews working in it. After all of the firefighters made their way outside, firefighters began to establish a water supply to the truck company in the front of the structure and engine seven opened up their deck gun and began to knock down the heavy fire condition in the attic area in the primary fire building. As the truck company was setting up, heavy fire blew through the center of the building and firefighters utilized a chainsaw and opened up a large hole in the front of the roof area for the master streams to knock down the heavy fire condition.

Firefighters continued to work for an extended period of time knocking down the heavy fire conditions inside of the structures. Firefighters were able to knock down the heavy fire conditions inside of the attic area and firefighters made their way back inside to begin to pull ceilings and conduct extensive overhaul. No injuries were reported. Firefighters remained on scene until the late morning hours chasing hotspots. Fire investigators are working to determine the cause of the fire. No cause has been released publicly.