For the second night in a row, in freezing temperatures, Hudson firefighters were called out in the middle of the night, this time for a fire alarm activation at 5 Willard Place. While enroute, Columbia County 911 provided an update that the alarm company was reporting additional detectors being activated. They also reported the building was occupied and it was unknown if everyone was out of the building.
Arriving units found a smoke condition within the occupied building and immediately reported a working fire. A small fire was quickly located in the floor of a first floor livingroom and was extinguished using one 2 inch attack line from Engine 30. Tower 32 overhauled using a chainsaw to remove the burned flooring.
The fire was contained to the hardwood floor as well as a few framing members in the basement.
Cause was attributed to improper disposal of fireplace ashes. The homeowners had placed ashes from their fireplace in a bag and left it on the hardwood floor next to the fireplace.
This is the second time in as many days in which smoke detectors played a vital part in preventing tragic outcomes. Last night at 4:51am Hudson members were called to 611 Warren Street for a fire in a third floor apartment, this too was discovered after a smoke detector activated in an occupied residential structure.
In both instances occupants were sound asleep and had no idea of the danger they were in until their smoke detectors woke them up to an immediate life threatening condition. As an added bonus, only minor damage resulted in each incident.
1 - Again, everyone is urged to have a working smoke detector on every level of your home as well as outside and within all sleeping areas. Proper type, placement, and care of detectors can be found here
2 – Proper disposal of hot embers and ashes from your woodstove or fireplace is vital. Place them in a metal container and remove them from the building completely to a safe area such as a back yard, away from any combustibles. DO NOT place them in a combustible container or leave them anywhere that is attached to a structure such as on a porch or in a garage.
The Hudson Fire Department provides free smoke detectors to anyone in our city who needs them, you may contact us through City Hall at 828-1030.
Units:
Car 1 - Chief Robert Pulver, Car 2 - Asst. Chief Craig Haigh, Car 3 - Asst. Chief James Schermerhorn, Engine 30, Tower 32, Engine 28, Rescue/Engine 27-9, M-27 (Fire Police)
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City of Hudson Fire Department
520 Warren Street
Hudson, NY 12534
