18 Homeless After Massive Fire in Green Island, The Aftermath

Smoke could be seen from as far away as Ravena when an entire apartment building was consumed by a massive fire Thursday afternoon in Green Island. The building was part of the River's Edge complex located on the Hudson River's Starbuck Island.

The fire began around noon Thursday, quickly spreading to the different apartments in the building. Onlookers from across the Hudson River posted this intense video from across the Hudson River.

Black smoke can be seen spewing into the air as the flames get hotter and spread throughout the structure.

Fire departments from Green Island, Troy, Cohoes, Watervliet and the Watervliet Arsenal all responded to the blaze. The Green Island Bridge was shut down for several hours Thursday afternoon as well as the roads surrounding the complex.

Luckily everybody got out, nobody was injured and all pets are accounted for. NewsChannel 13 reports about 18 people have been displaced. A neighbor, Brittany Zellman, told them she saw the fire quickly spreading:

It was devastating. It was very clear from the onset of the fire that they were going to lose everything.

Those affected by the fire are currently being helped by the local chapter of the American Red Cross.

Fire investigators are still trying to figure out what caused the blaze, though they say it doesn't appear to be suspicious or intentional at this point.

On Friday, demolition crews were at the site of what remained, using an excavator to knock down what's still standing. Crews on the ground say it will take several days to clean up.

NewsChannel 13

NewsChannel 13 via Sidewinder Photography

NewsChannel 13

The heat was so intense, the vinyl siding on a neighboring building across the parking lot began to melt.

NewsChannel 13

In 2019 Ice Jams Caused Boats to Break Free in the Hudson River [PHOTOS]

This is one of those famous moments in Capital Region history where you probably remember where you were when it happened. On the morning of Friday, January 25, 2019 at least six boats broke free in the in the Hudson River between Troy and Albany. Since it was January, all the boats were unmanned at the time, so they were at the mercy of the river current and the ice.

There had been some strange weather developing over the previous few days and ice jams formed enough to wreak havoc on the Hudson River from Troy to Albany. Several boats became dislodged starting in Troy, eventually moving down the river where many hit the Livingston Avenue bridge, which carries trains over the Hudson between Albany and Rensselaer.

One of the boats that broke free that morning was the Captain JP Cruise ship, a four level vessel and popular summer party spot. It hit the bridge and was lodged there for quite a while as crews worked to free it. There was some damage, but it was able to be repaired in time for summer.

At least six other boats were pushed down the river including the Rusty Anchor Restaurant as well as some barges and tugboats.

Several bridges were closed due to safety concerns, including the Patroon Island Bridge, which carries I-90 over the Hudson connecting Albany and Rensselaer Counties. Rescue crews with tugboats were on the scene quickly from the port of Albany to stop the runaway boats.

Source: 18 Homeless After Massive Fire in Green Island, The Aftermath

Filed Under: green island, green island bridge, troy ny, watervliet, watervliet arsenal

Categories: Around Albany