Westmere Fire Department Responded to Early-Morning Structure Fire

Albany, N.Y. — October 22 — The Westmere Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire on Graylon Place around 5:30 a.m.after receiving a call about a fire inside a wall.

Engine 97 and Tower Ladder 99 arrived within about 10 minutes and began extinguishing the fire. Crews also carried out overhaul and ventilation operations to check for hidden fire and clear smoke from the affected area. Engine 96 arrived shortly afterward with additional firefighters to help.

The fire was contained to the area where it started. All occupants safely evacuated the building, and no injuries were reported.

The response included mutual aid from the Guilderland Fire Department and Fort Hunter Fire Company. The Guilderland Police Department and Guilderland Emergency Medical Services also provided support at the scene.

The Westmere Fire Department operates from 1741 Western Avenue in Albany and provides fire suppression, emergency medical services, rescue, and other emergency response services in the Town of Guilderland.

Westmere’s apparatus includes Engine 97, equipped with a pump rated at 1,500 gallons per minute, and Tower Ladder 99, a 112-foot aerial tower with a 1,500-gallon-per-minute pump.

The incident highlighted the importance of rapid fire attack, checking concealed spaces during overhaul, and coordination among neighboring agencies during early-morning structure fire responses.