Rensco Plagued By Fires This Past Week
by Doug La Rocque and Steve Bradley
There have been several major fires around the county since Friday morning, March 5. The first destroyed a home on Cold Spring Road in Berlin. No injuries were reported in this or any of the fire scenes as of press time. The Berlin Fire Department was assisted by neighboring communities. The building was a total loss.
Also Friday, a fire broke out at a Buskirk Animal Sanctuary. The fire damaged a hay barn, along with some coops and animal care areas of the HeartsHerd Animal Sanctuary and Rescue Center. The hay barn had fire in it but firefighters quickly got that under control, saving that building. With two homes very close to the fire area, this could have been a major fire but for the quick response of the fire departments. If you would like to help to rebuild, donations can be made at www.heartsherd.com. Fire departments from Buskirk, Johnsonville, West Hoosick, Cambridge, Pittstown, North Hoosick, Hoosick Falls, Town of Hoosick Rescue Squad and NYS Police responded to the scene.
On Saturday, the Troy Fire Department, with help from the cities of Watervliet and Albany, battled flames that broke out at the former Hill’s Stationary Building on Broadway, across from the Post Office. The upper floors housed apartments. Everyone escaped safely and there are a number of fundraisers taking place in the city for the displaced residents.
Monday night, West Sand Lake Firefighters found a home on State Route 150, opposite the Hannaford Grocery Store, to be fully involved in flames on their arrival. A second alarm was sounded, involving departments from all around the central portion of the county. Again, everyone escaped safely. Fire apparatus and investigators remained on the scene well into the next morning, with the West Sand Lake Fire Department recalled the next day to put out flames that had rekindled on the roof.
As of press time, Troy firefighters were battling a two-alarm blaze on 7th Avenue that reportedly spread to a neighboring building. They were again assisted by the fire departments from the City of Watervliet and the Watervliet Arsenal.