Former Xtile Factory with Heavy Fire
 
By HFD Newsroom
January 18, 2017
 

At Approximately 3am Hudson Fire was dispatched for an unknown type fire to the rear of Hudson Terrace Apartments on North Front Street. The dispatch was quickley update to a working fire based on the multiple calls being received by Columbia County 911.

On arrival members found the 150 x 50 2 1/2 story brick and timber structure fully engulfed in flames. There was an immediate exposure threat to the Hudson Terrace Apartments 44 yards to the south of the building. Siding had already begun to melt and windows were beginning to break at HTA from the radiant heat.

Chief Anthony DeMarco Jr. as well as Assistant Chiefs Shawn Hoffman and Nicolas Pierro arrived and were quickly joined by Engine 30-25 and Tower Ladder 32-55. Mutual Aid was requested to respond to the scene from the Greenport Fire District with Heavy Rescue 25, and Catskill with Tower Ladder 3-15 and Engine 3-13. Stottville was requested with Engine 50-22 to the Scene and to relocate an Engine and their Tower Ladder to standby at the HFD Central Station.

Engine 30-25 dropped a 5 inch supply line and set up at the A/D side of the building. They immediately established a second 5 inch supply line from a hydrant at the corner of Front and Dock St. Engine 30 went to work with their truck mounted 2,000 gallon per minute "Monsoon" deluge gun and began darkening down the heavy fire. Numerous 2 1/2 inch and 2 inch lines, and a portable deluge gun were also stretched around the building and placed into operation.

Tower 32 arrived and set up at the A/D side as well. They were given a supply line by incoming Engine 28-28 and went to work with their 2,000 gallon per minute elevated master stream. Several 2 1/2 inch hose lines as well as 3 additional Blitzfire master streams were placed into operation.

Engine 27-42 arrived and was assigned to drop a 5 inch supply line from Tower 32 to the Hudson River where they set up drafting operations. Engine 27 additionally stretched a 3 inch hose line equipped with a blitz attack master stream to the rear of the structure and went to work.

Stottville Engine 50-22 was assigned to drop nearly 2,000 feet of 5 inch hose from Engine 30 to a hydrant at the intersection of Dock St and North 2nd Street. Greenport Rescue 25 was initially assigned as the FAST however they were eventually put to work assisting with the multiple hose lines. Claverack was requested to the scene with their Rescue/Engine to act as the FAST team.

Catskill Tower Ladder 3-15 set up on the A/B corner and went to work with two elevated master streams and several hose lines. They were supplied by Engine 3-13 who dropped a 5 inch supply line from them to a hydrant at the corner of Front and Warren St.

Although the heaviest fire was knocked down shortly after arrival, units operated until shortly after 8pm taking care of deep seated pockets of fire and remained until the building was demolished. At the height of the fire approximately 100 firefighters were on the scene.

The Greenport Rescue Squad stood by at the scene with a Paramedic crew and periodically screened firefighters.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by the Hudson Police Fire Investigation Team and investigators from the New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control.

Assisting at the scene were Columbia County Fire Coordinator William Hunt as well as Deputy Coordinators Peter Harvey and George Keeler. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation responded due to the proximity of the building and water runoff to the Hudson River.

City of Hudson Mayor Tiffany Martin-Hamilton responded to scene as well as Code Enforcement Officer Craig Haigh, DPW Superintendent Robert Perry and representatives from the Water Department.

One Firefighter was treated at the scene by Greenport Rescue for a minor laceration.

 
Units: All Hudson FD Units
 
Mutual Aid: Greenport Heavy Rescue 25, Catskill Tower 3-15 and Engine 3-13, Stottville 50-22Claverack with an Engine/Rescue.