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Investigators have determined that a portable heating appliance caused the deadly fire in Waterford on Wednesday (December 4). The blaze occurred at an apartment building on Broad Street, resulting in one fatality and six injuries. According to authorities, the fire started in the rear bedroom of a second-story apartment. When firefighters arrived, they encountered heavy smoke and flames reaching 30 to 40 feet in the air.
Waterford Fire Chief Donald Baldwin stated that the fire was reported at 3:45 a.m., and crews from nearly 20 agencies responded to the scene. The fire affected a three-story building, which also housed a local business, Bill’s Card Shaq. The building sustained significant damage, and an engineer will assess whether it needs to be demolished.
The identity of the deceased victim has not been released, pending notification of family members. The fire left six others hospitalized, including a three-year-old girl who was airlifted to a hospital. CBS6 Albany reported that the fire was one of two fatal incidents in the Capital Region on the same day.
Times Union mentioned that the fire department faced challenges due to the proximity of adjacent buildings, which sustained smoke and water damage. The community is now rallying around the affected families and the local business owner, William Hodges IV, who is assessing the future of his shop.
NEWS10 reported that the fire was extinguished by 7:45 a.m., but crews continued to manage hotspots throughout the day. The investigation into the fire's cause confirmed the involvement of the portable heater, highlighting the importance of safety measures when using such devices during the colder months.