July 19--ALBANY -- More than 50 firefighters extinguished a three-alarm fire on Orange Street in West Hill Thursday before it could spread to more than the three two-family houses it damaged.
"They did a great job," said Chief Robert Forezzi. "I was worried it was going to spread up the street and down the street."
There were no reported injuries to residents, who evacuated themselves safely, Forezzi said. One firefighter was being treated for a minor leg injury.
The fire broke out in the rear of a second-floor apartment of 360 Orange St. shortly before 6:30 p.m., Forezzi said, and spread to 362 and 364, all multiple-apartment dwellings separated by narrow passageways.
Neighbors Nicola Graham and Ahsid Hemingway alerted residents after they saw heavy smoke and flames and were hailed as heroes by Elnora Moore, 80, who walks with a cane. She has lived on the first floor of 360 Orange St. for 28 years. "They said 'C'mon mama. Get out! Get out!" and they helped me across the street. I'm thankful for them," she said.
"I saw flames in my kitchen and ran out. It was scary," said Leona Muhammad, who lived on the second floor of 360 Orange St. with her son and daughter. "We lost everything. I don't know what we're going to do."
Forezzi said it was too early to speculate on the fire's cause. American Red Cross officials from the local chapter assisted families displaced by the blaze.
Copyright 2013 - Times Union, Albany, N.Y.
