Nighttime Thruway Fire: Coordinated Fire Attack Extinguishes Semi-Truck on Berkshire Spur

Niverville, NY - Volunteer firefighters mounted an extended suppression operation along the New York State Thruway early Sunday morning, battling a stubborn commercial tractor-trailer fire that shut down travel lanes on the Berkshire Spur (I-90).

Just after midnight on September 13, emergency tones dispatched the Niverville Fire Department on a mutual aid assignment to assist the South Schodack Fire District with a heavily involved commercial rig fire along the Berkshire Spur corridor.

Niverville deployed Car 1, Car 3, Tanker 45-35, and Engine 45-13 to the highway scene. Upon arrival, crews integrated directly into suppression lines and established sustained water shuttle operations alongside South Schodack and regional mutual aid units to combat the deep-seated cargo and vehicle fire.

Firefighters operated on the interstate for several hours, contending with persistent flare-ups, overhaul of burning contents, and runoff control before the blaze was brought completely under control and declared fully extinguished.

Department officials commended the seamless inter-agency coordination between the Rensselaer and Columbia County departments, emphasizing that effective cross-border teamwork was essential to safely managing the prolonged highway operation.