MENANDS, N.Y. — A fire at a Menands fire station destroyed a fire apparatus and damaged other equipment, causing more than $5 million in damage, officials said.
Investigators are working to determine the cause of the fire, including whether electronic equipment left charging inside Squad 6 for at least three days may have sparked it. Officials said the device may have been an iPad with a lithium battery, WNYT reported.
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“Technology is a great thing until an incident like this occurs,” Menands Mayor Brian Marsh said. “Lithium batteries are great for electronics, but they have a potential to cause fire.”
Crews are also evaluating whether the fire station building remains structurally sound.
The building, which also houses the Menands Police Station and Village Hall, sustained smoke damage and some structural damage to the first and second floors, Marsh told News10. He said it will likely be several months before the building reopens.
“We’re going to make contingency plans for some of the other functions of the building,” Marsh said. “Community seniors programs are on the second floor of the fire hall. We’re going to have to relocate them, and obviously, our fire operations are down for now.”
In the meantime, Town of Colonie Fire Coordinator Michael Romano is working on a plan to support the department and its firefighters. Marsh said the Schuyler Heights Fire Department has offered its station and a fire truck to Menands to help cover emergency calls.
