CLINTON HEIGHTS, NY - On June 13, 2026, at 2:27 PM, the Clinton Heights Fire Department was dispatched to 3346 River Road for a reported structure fire. Police units from the City of Rensselaer reported seeing a heavy column of smoke in the distance along River Road to their dispatcher. Multiple callers reported some type of factory or field on fire. Police units arrived on scene and confirmed they had a large machine on fire, along with mulch piles that were also burning. The Chief of the Clinton Heights Fire Department requested the City of Rensselaer Fire Department, Clinton Heights Fire Department manpower, and the Best Luther Fire Department with their tankers to respond to the scene, as officers reported a heavily involved piece of machinery that had begun to explode.

With an extremely limited water supply on scene and a significant distance between the entryway and the fire location, command requested tankers from South Schodack, Castleton, East Schodack, Schodack Valley, Nassau, West Sand Lake, Defreestville, Stuyvesant, and Averill Park Fire Departments to respond. Command confirmed there was a large sifter on fire, along with a large pile of mulch. Engine 8-2 arrived on scene and began extinguishing the fire involving the sifter. As they were doing so, Truck 8 arrived on scene, along with an additional engine and truck company from the City of Rensselaer. With temperatures hovering around 90°F, the extreme heat created additional challenges for firefighters battling the fire.

Firefighters established a significant tanker operation on River Road as the Best Luther Fire Department supplied water to the scene from the main roadway. Firefighters continued working to knock down the fire conditions in the mulch pile and machinery. During operations, two loaders working on scene began to have debris inside their motor compartments catch fire, and firefighters shifted their efforts to extinguishing the fires within the motor areas. The Defreestville Fire Department established a tanker fill site at 507 South Road to support water operations. Multiple cover companies from Rensselaer County began moving south to cover fire departments that were operating at the scene.

With temperatures remaining around 90°F, conditions continued to make operations difficult for firefighters. Crews continued working on scene, pulling apart portions of the mulch pile and applying water to the heavy machinery that was burning within the piles. Multiple firefighters from numerous agencies arrived on scene and entered the operational area to assist with the labor-intensive operation. With firefighters becoming exhausted, command requested that multiple cases of water be brought to the scene by the Mountain View Fire Company, which was covering the Clinton Heights Fire Department. As firefighters continued operations, the truck company extended its nozzle over the machinery and utilized master streams to knock down the remaining fire.

As multiple tankers arrived on scene, a significant water supply was established, and within approximately 30 minutes, firefighters had the entire incident under control. Command requested the City of Rensselaer Fire Department Fire Investigation Unit respond to the scene. Firefighters continued working for an extended period to fully address the incident. All units returned to service a few hours after the fire was extinguished due to the extensive pickup of large-diameter hose used for the supply line into the scene.