Albany sees three fires on Thursday

ALBANY — At least three apparently unrelated fires were battled in Albany Thursday, the first at a residence at 210 Adelyn Road around 12:15 a.m.

Firefighters managed to extinguish the flames quickly, officials say. According to Battalion Chief Kelly Harcrow, no one was injured in the fire. A family dog was rescued by a resident, Harcrow said. Fire officials say the blaze began with food left on the stove.

Around 7 a.m. Thursday, Albany firefighters responded to a fire in vacant home on West 2nd Avenue near Washington Street, officials say, which was “fully involved” when trucks and firefighters came on the scene.

According to Fire Investigator Sam Harris, the fire was likely caused by vagrants who had placed an electric space heater too close to an unknown combustible item. Harris said the vagrants, who have not been located, appeared to have been “stealing” electricity from the ceiling to operate the space heater.

Fire officials had confirmed a third fire on the 1200 block of Teche Avenue in East Albany. At around 4:30 p.m. Battalion Chief Clarence Haynes said firefighters had brought the flames under control. The two occupants of the residence told firefighters the blaze had originated from hot grease on the stove, Haynes said.