On September 21, 2025, at 4:16 AM, the Troy Fire Department responded to a serious structure fire at 181 6th Avenue. The initial report indicated a basement fire at the two-story wood-frame, multi-occupancy building.
Upon arrival, Car 3 and Engine 4 reported heavy smoke and immediately declared a “signal thirty” for a working structure fire. Firefighters quickly deployed a hand line to the front door, while other units connected to a nearby hydrant to secure the water supply for Engine 4.
Rapid Escalation and Second Alarm
Conditions rapidly worsened as heavy, black, turbulent smoke began to push from the second floor. Firefighters pushing onto the first floor discovered a significant fire burning within the walls.
Recognizing the escalating danger and potential for spread, Command immediately transmitted a second-alarm fire. This brought in mutual aid from the Watervliet Arsenal Fire Department, the City of Watervliet Fire Department, Engine 6, and the Green Island Fire Department.
Initial interior crews searched the basement without locating the fire before moving to the first and second floors. A firefighter on the first floor soon notified Command that the fire was traveling in the walls between the first and second floors.
Emergency Evacuation and Defensive Attack
As crews attempted to secure additional hand lines and ascend the stairwell, they were hit with heavy heat and significant smoke conditions. Command ordered an immediate evacuation, and the evacuation tones were transmitted. Firefighters quickly exited the building just moments before the second floor erupted in heavy fire from the windows and roofline.
Once clear of the building, multiple firefighters immediately began a defensive attack. The pump operator on Engine 4 quickly engaged the deck gun, successfully knocking down the heavy fire on the second floor. Truck companies simultaneously began vertical ventilation on the roof to release superheated gases.
Interior Push and Cats Rescued
After a brief defensive period, firefighters re-entered the structure to aggressively target the remaining fire. Crews advanced multiple hand lines to the second floor while the first-floor crew conducted a primary search. During the search, firefighters began to locate and rescue multiple cats from the building, bringing them safely to the owner outside.
Interior and roof operations continued, with firefighters pulling ceilings and opening walls to expose hidden fire. Crews from the Watervliet Arsenal and Green Island Fire Departments assisted with exterior attacks and continued aggressive vertical ventilation to contain the blaze, which had begun traveling through the attic. Firefighters worked for an extended period into the early morning, hitting hotspots and conducting extensive overhaul.
No injuries were reported during the incident. Fire investigators are now looking into the cause of the fire, which has not been released publicly.