COHOES — A longtime vacant building in Cohoes was severely damaged by fire in the early morning hours Sunday, Mayor Shawn Morse said.
The two-family structure at 32 McElwain Ave. sat abandoned for several years after a previos fire made the building unlivable, Morse said — the mayor referring to it as a "zombie building."
"I've had grave concerns about not just that building, but others that fit that category," Morse said.
Morse said the city is compiling a list of "zombie buildings" after resident complaints. The home was abandoned for at least three to four years, Morse said.
Morse, a longtime firefighter, said he went to the scene and saw flames and heavy smoke bursting out of the east-facing side of the building.
A home on 34 McElwain was also damaged, Morse said.
One firefighter was hospitalized as a precaution after he complained of neck pain, Morse said.
The flames were under control around 2:30 a.m., although firefighters remained on the scene until 4:30 a.m.
Firefighters from the Albany, Watervliet, and Troy fire departments assisted, Assistant Chief Joe Gregory of the Albany Fire Department said.
Engineers will inspect the destroyed home Monday to determine if what remains must be demolished, Morse said.
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