08/02/2026
On August 1, 2026, the City of Amsterdam Professional Firefighters were dispatched to a reported structure fire with possible entrapment in the area of Brookside Avenue. Engine 1 and Truck 1 responded with an initial complement of five firefighters and two officers. While en route, Montgomery County Dispatch advised crews that multiple 911 calls were being received reporting the fire. Due to a heavy column of smoke visible from a considerable distance, Engine 1 requested both a second and third alarm to be struck prior to arrival.
Upon arrival, crews encountered a two-and-a-half-story duplex with heavy fire showing from the front of the structure, extending along the side of the building and into the roofline. A 1¾-inch handline was quickly stretched and placed into service for an aggressive interior attack. The Engine 1 crew encountered intense heat and heavy fire conditions within the first-floor apartment but successfully knocked down the bulk of the fire. Simultaneously, the Truck 1 crew conducted a primary search of the fire apartment for the reported occupants. The search was negative, and shortly thereafter the Amsterdam Police Department made contact with the unaccounted-for tenants, confirming they were not home at the time of the incident.
As the fire extended into the second floor and attic space, a second 1¾-inch handline was deployed to contain and extinguish the extension. With limited initial staffing and crews continuing to operate on their second and third SCBA cylinders, a fourth alarm was requested to provide additional personnel for fire suppression, overhaul, and crew relief. The fire was declared under control approximately 50 minutes after arrival, followed by extensive overhaul operations. Once all suppression activities were complete, the scene was turned over to the fire investigation team.
Due to the outdoor temperatures combined with the demanding interior fire conditions, five firefighters required on-scene medical evaluation. Two firefighters were transported to the emergency department for further evaluation.
The Amsterdam Professional Firefighters Local 2825 would like to thank National Grid, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office EMS Division, and the Amsterdam Police Department for their invaluable assistance throughout this incident.
