Early Morning Fire At Westview Homes in Albany

Cold weather is quickly approaching, and we are in the midst of this COVID-19 pandemic. Those two things combined make this a horrible time to have elderly people displaced.

Imagine being awakened in the early morning hours to the news that the building that your elderly parent lives in is on fire. Or better yet, imagine that you are an elderly person and you wake up smelling smoke and realize that your building is on fire.

That was the scenario for residents at the Westview Homes on Central Avenue, in Albany. Westview Homes is a development for elderly and disabled people.

The Albany Fire Department had to dispatch seven of their companies to the Westview Homes around 4:47 this morning.

Investigators have not determined the cause of the fire, but they believe that it began in a closet in one of the units. The sprinkler system in the apartment was able to control the fire until the fire department arrived.

Fortunately, no one in the building was injured. It appears that the biggest problem with this morning’s fire was water damage. The person who lives in the affected apartment had to be moved to a vacant apartment.

Fire officials are still investigating this incident. They believe that some of the residents may be able to return to their apartments. However, if the water damage is severe enough, evacuations would be more extensive.

We will have to keep an eye on this incident to see if the senior citizens need more help. We all have to help out when we can.