HUDSON—Three families who were residents of two buildings at 336 and 338 State Street lost everything when a fire broke out, destroying their homes, February 28 at 10:43 p.m.
The cause of the blaze has not yet been determined.
Wendy Shea was one of 16 people displaced by the fire. Ms. Shea has four children and had just bought new furniture including bedroom sets for the kids with her income tax refund. The children were staying with Ms. Shea’s sister when the blaze broke out.
The Red Cross provided assistance to the three families living in the buildings. The first family consisted of one adult and four children; a second family was made up of one adult and one child and the third family consisted of three adults and six children. The children ranged in age from 7 months to 16, according to a press release issued by the Red Cross.
All residents received assistance with temporary lodging, food, clothing and seasonal garments. Volunteers also provided infant supplies for the youngest children, comfort kits containing personal care items and stuffed animals for the children. In the coming days, Red Cross staff and volunteers will remain available to help those affected by last night’s fire as they navigate the road to recovery.
A community effort to help get the families back on their feet is being headed by Hudson Second Ward Alderman Tiffany Garriga, who is also the chair of community service for the Staley B. Keith Social Justice Center. Ms. Garriga has been working to get community donations, according to a press release.
People can make monetary donations through a Go Fund Me campaign at http://www.gofundme.com/nhf4u0. A master list of items that the families need may be found at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cLDdzvez3jtszTkBlh0lxIaVxYWiKycjb2ayDg0e70Y/edit?usp=sharing
Call Ms. Garriga at 518 965-3372 to arrange to drop off donated items at Bliss Towers.
County Control initially dispatched Hudson firefighters and the Greenport Rescue Squad, Saturday night. Mutual aid was summoned from Greenport, Stottville, Athens and Catskill.
Units from Claverack and Stottville stood by at the Hudson Central Station. Columbia County Fire Coordinator John Howe and Deputy Fire Coordinators William Hunt, George Keeler and Peter Harvey were on the fire scene along with Hudson Police and National Grid.
Greenport Rescue treated three firefighters at the scene. One who was nauseous and two others for cuts on their hands. The Columbia County Cause and Origin Team bus was used as a warming station.
Firefighters were back in service at 3:46 a.m. Sunday, March 1.
On March 4, Red Cross volunteers went door-to-door through the city to distribute information about home fire preparedness and prevention. The Red Cross also offered to install free smoke alarms in the homes of Hudson residents by appointment.
Residents are encouraged to contact Burgundy Magoon at 518 694-5117 or email burgundy.magoon@redcross.org for more information.
Chatham house engulfed
Fourteen fire companies were called to the scene of a house fire at 273 Highland Road, Chatham, March 4 at 10 a.m. The blaze destroyed the home of NancyScans owners John and Nancy Olson. Columbia County 911 called in the Chatham Fire Department, Chatham Rescue Squad and mutual aid from the Ghent, Valatie, Red Rock, Niverville , Tri-Village, Mellenville, East Chatham, Kinderhook, Stockport, Stottville, Stuyvesant, Stuyvesant Falls and West Ghent fire departments. State Police, the Columbia County Fire Coordinators and the Columbia County Cause and Origin Team assisted at the scene. The rescue squad took one firefighter to Columbia Memorial Hospital.
The Chatham Highway crew was called in to sand the road and New York State Electric & Gas was also summoned.
According to information provided by newsman Lance Wheeler, several explosions came from the home’s basement . Firefighters had to wait for water, which came from a tanker shuttle and more than a half mile of hose. County 911 reported the fire out at 1:33 p.m.
Sheriff’s Office conducts snowmobile safety course
CLAVERACK—The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office in conjunction with the Columbia County Sno-Drifters will hold the sixth annual snowmobile safety course at the Cornell Cooperative Extension Education Center, 479 Route 66, March 8 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
This course provides fundamental information which all snowmobilers should have to ensure the safety of riders and other trail users. Successful completion of this course results in the award of a New York State Snowmobile Safety Certificate.
This course will be taught by Sheriff David Bartlett and deputies. Youth ages 10 through 17 years old may operate a snowmobile on lands upon which snowmobiling is allowed if they have completed a snowmobile safety training course recognized by the state.
This course is free to the public and seating is limited. Reservations can be made by contacting Sheriff Bartlett at 518 828-0601X 1400. Lunch will be provided by the Sno-Drifters.
