TROY, NY - On May 1st at 5:25 A.M., the City of Troy’s Police Department received a call for an individual that had just kicked in the front door at 3033 7th Avenue on the first floor and ignited the building on fire. The suspect was described as a white male wearing a gray sweater and blue jeans who took off running with a limp down Douw Street.

As this information was being given to the police department, the alarm of fire was being dropped and the long tones were sounded at all of the fire stations throughout the city of Troy. Engines 4, 1 and 2, along with the rescue squad, medic four, Trucks 1 and 2, and the battalion chief were dispatched to the scene.

The sergeant arrived on scene and notified the dispatcher that he had a smoke condition coming from the building and to notify the fire department. Engine 4 arrived on scene and immediately declared the Signal 30 for a working structure fire as they had a moderate fire condition inside of the building. Firefighters connected to the nearby hydrant and the truck company quickly set up in the middle of the road right and made their way to the roof. All of the occupants in the home were able to get out safely. Firefighters utilized a hand line and quickly knocked down the heavy fire condition inside of the apartment. Police began to canvas the area for the suspect that ignited the building on fire while it was occupied.

Firefighters were able to quickly bring the incident under control and began to conduct extensive overhaul of the badly damaged building. Code enforcement had already shut down the first-floor apartment for deplorable conditions when it was searched by the Rensselaer County Sheriff's Office Narcotics Task Force. The city of Troy Police Department brought in detectives to assist with the investigation. At this time the suspect has not been captured and is still on the loose.