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An explosion at the Albany Yacht Club in Rensselaer injured two people on Friday (August 1). The incident occurred at a fueling dock, where a boat caught fire, leading to a large blaze. The City of Rensselaer Fire Department responded to the scene around 5:40 p.m. and found the boat engulfed in flames.
The fire injured a fueling operator from the yacht club and a firefighter, both of whom were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. According to WNYT, the boat detached from the dock due to the intensity of the fire and began drifting south down the Hudson River. Firefighters managed to secure it two docks south using a pike pole and brought the flames under control within 30 minutes.
The cause of the explosion is currently under investigation. Rensselaer Mayor Mike Stammel described the scene as challenging, noting that the fire melted the ropes securing the boat, causing it to drift. He mentioned to NEWS10 that the incident is believed to be accidental.
Fire Chief Bill Brooking stated that such incidents are not common and described the operation as labor-intensive. The boat is expected to be removed from the water on Saturday (August 2). The investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing, and authorities are working to determine the exact circumstances that led to the explosion.