BRUNSWICK, NY - On May 15th at 9:03 P.M., the Rensselaer County Emergency Communication Center dispatched the city of Troy‘s fire department to the area of Tibbitts Avenue and South Lake Avenue for a reported structure fire. The caller reported a large glow in the area, and it appeared that there was a house on fire.

Engines 2, 4 and 6, along with Trucks 1 and 2, the rescue squad, Medic 4, and the battalion chief responded to the scene. As units arrived in the area, they could not locate the fire on South Lake Avenue and continued to search. Another caller reported that there was a house on fire with fire coming from the windows. Fire units notified the dispatcher that they could not find the fire and to get a better location from the callers.

As Engine 6 turned down Prout Avenue, the officer on the rig notified the dispatcher that they had found a house fire in the Brunswick No.1 Fire District, and they would be stretching a line. Engine 6 notified the dispatcher that he had heavy fire showing from a two-story bungalow and declared a Signal 30 for a working structure fire. The Rensselaer County Emergency Communication Center dispatched the Brunswick No.1 Fire Co., Center Brunswick Fire Co., Speigletown FD, Mountain View FD for the FAST, and Mohawk Ambulance Service to the scene. Troy firefighters quickly made their way inside of the structure, conducted a primary search of the residence and discovered that no one was home.

Firefighters made their way to the rear of the building where they had a heavy fire condition with fire that got into the attic area. Firefighters from Brunswick No. 1 were at the firehouse for Monday night drill and quickly arrived on scene with Trucks 4 and 4-1. Firefighters immediately began to assist the other firefighters on scene. Firefighters that were on the roof conducting ventilation were notified to get off, as they had heavy fire below them. Firefighters deployed a high-rise pack to the roof of the structure, had the pump operator charge the line, and knocked down the heavy fire condition in the attic area as additional firefighters in the rear began to bring the fire under control. As firefighters continued to work on the 'Bravo' side of the structure, heavy smoke and fire began to push from the attic vent.

Truck 4 set up and deployed to the side of the building where they pulled the vent away, exposing the heavy fire condition. Firefighters from the ground level utilized a hand line and began to knock down the fire. Firefighters on the roof vented in the structure and crews inside deployed a hand line to the second floor and began to pull the ceilings to gain access to the remaining hot spots. As additional resources arrived on scene, they staged in the front yard of the neighbor's house.

Firefighters were able to bring the incident under control quickly and began conducting extensive overhaul of the main fire area and attic area. No injuries were reported, and the fire is under investigation at this time. Firefighters on scene from the Troy FD packed up their hose lines and equipment and went back into service, turning the scene over to Brunswick No.1 command.