BRUNSWICK, NY - On April 5, 2025, at 6:17 AM, the Brunswick No. 1 Fire Company, Center Brunswick Fire Company, Speigletown Fire Department, Mountain View Fire Company (for the Rapid Intervention Crew), and Mohawk Ambulance Service were dispatched to 180 McChesney Avenue. The caller reported that the roof was on fire. A heavy column of black smoke was visible from a mile away, from the top of Hoosick Street near the city line to Troy. The sheriff’s deputies arrived on scene and notified the dispatcher, confirming they had a working structure fire.

Car 2 from the Brunswick No. 1 Fire Company arrived on scene to find heavy fire showing from the attic, with solar panels on the roof. Car 1 from Brunswick No. 1 transmitted the Signal 30 based on the arrival report from the Assistant Chief. The Chief arrived on scene and immediately transmitted the second alarm, bringing the Wynantskill Fire Department and Eagle Mills Fire Department to the scene. Engine 4-1 called en route four minutes into the fire and arrived on scene within four minutes due to light early-morning traffic on Hoosick Street. Firefighters immediately took the driveway, connecting to a nearby hydrant at the end of the driveway. Engine-Ladder 35 arrived on scene and set up behind the first due apparatus, extending the ladder over the top of Engine 4-1. Firefighters deployed a 1¾-inch hand line to the Alpha side of the structure and began to knock down the fire on the exterior of the building. Command notified all units to avoid entering the structure due to the solar panels on the roof.

As mutual aid companies continued to arrive, they began to set up master streams in the driveway. Firefighters quickly began to knock down the heavy fire condition using the master streams from the truck company and a 2½-inch hand line. The focus was on knocking down the fire in the attic area. National Grid arrived on scene and began disconnecting the power to the home. Firefighters were able to shut down the power to the home, but the solar panels on the roof could not be de-energized. Firefighters used their hand lines from the doorway on the first floor to knock down visible fire. On the Charlie side of the structure, firefighters still had a significant fire condition visible from the roof and the rear of the building. They continued to use hand lines to knock down the remaining fire.

Firefighters moved equipment from the front of the structure to clear the yard and avoid tripping hazards. As crews continued to work, the heavy fire condition inside the structure began to improve. Rensselaer County Field Operations staff arrived on scene and began conducting their operations. After the heavy fire was knocked down and crews examined the interior of the home, command allowed firefighters to enter, hit remaining hot spots, and conduct a primary search of the house. Within 40 minutes, firefighters had the entire incident under control. No injuries were reported. The fire is currently under investigation.