TROY, NY - On November 26, 2023, at 2:41 A.M., the city of Troy's Fire Department was dispatched to 524 2nd Avenue for the second time in less than a week for another reported structure fire. The caller reported that the building was on fire. Engine 1, Engine 2, Engine 4, the rescue squad, Truck 2, Truck 1, Medic 4, and the battalion chief responded to the scene. On November 17, 2023, at 6:42 A.M., the city of Troy's Fire Department responded to the same address for a chair in the hallway that was set on fire.

The police department quickly arrived on scene, as they were just previously there for an individual that had threatened and dragged an individual from the home with a knife. The police department notified the dispatcher that they had smoke pushing from the roof of the structure. Engine 1 and Truck 1 arrived on scene within one minute of the dispatch and transmitted the Signal 30. Firefighters made their way up to the second-floor where they had a heavy smoke condition and requested the hand lines to be charged. Additional firefighters made their way to the third-floor to search above the fire floor, and only had a heavy smoke condition. Firefighters were able to quickly search the third-floor, as it was a vacant apartment, and firefighters made sure that everybody was out of the first-floor apartment. As firefighters were working the fire scene, police canvassing the area discovered an individual from the fire scene in a garbage can down the street unconscious and requested EMS to the scene. With all of the units tied up on the fire scene, Colonie EMS was dispatched to the scene to assist.

Firefighters on the second-floor continued to make a push inside of the apartment and discovered they had multiple items on fire, and quickly began to knock down the fire condition on the second-floor. As a precautionary measure, firefighters deployed an additional hand line to the front door of the structure from Engine 1. Engine 4 laid in the large diameter hose down the street and fed the scene with water. Firefighters on the roof had a heavy smoke condition in the cockloft and began to vent the structure. Firefighters on the third-floor deployed an extra hand line and went to work knocking down the fire condition they had discovered that extended from the second-floor and quickly knocked it down. Firefighters notified command that the primary search was completed, and there was no one inside of the structure. Firefighters inside of the building requested crews to bring pike poles to the second and third floors to begin to pull ceilings and check for further extension.

Within 15 minutes, firefighters on scene had all of the fire knocked down and were overhauling. Command requested national grid to the scene to shut down the power to that portion of the building along with code enforcement. Command also requested the red cross to the scene for individuals on the second-floor. Fire investigators were requested to the scene, as the fire was suspicious in nature. Command also requested the police department evidence technician to the scene. Police arrived and began to process the scene and work with fire investigators.

One individual was taken in custody involved with another incident just prior to the fires breaking out. Troy police arrested Tequan Grimes (age: 38, Troy), and he was charged with Burglary, Menacing and Criminal Possession of a Weapon (knife). At this time, police have yet to make an arrest in the case of the arson fire of either time the building was ignited. Troy police anticipate they will be making an arrest regarding the fire once the investigation corroborates certain information. Troy police departments detectives assigned to the ATF task force are utilizing resources to help find the person responsible for the fires. No injuries were reported on scene from the fire. One neighbor that lived in the building was extremely vocal about the conditions and problems the individuals on the second-floor have been causing, along with significant drug activity and major disturbances. The individual has reported the quality-of-life issues multiple times to numerous police agencies.