Governor Cuomo Directs State Resources to Assist the City of Cohoes After Massive Fire
Press Release
December 01, 2017
Contact: Richard Loconte, 212-709-1691
GOVERNOR CUOMO DIRECTS STATE RESOURCES TO ASSIST THE CITY OF COHOES AFTER MASSIVE FIRE
State Department of Financial Services to Offer Insurance Claim Assistance to Affected Residents Beginning Tonight
Experts from the State Office of Fire Prevention and Control and Department of Environmental Conservation Remain on the Ground Assisting Local Authorities
Governor Cuomo today announced that officials from the State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, State Department of Environmental Conservation and State Department of Financial Services have been dispatched to assist the City of Cohoes after a fire swept through downtown yesterday afternoon damaging over 20 buildings and displacing approximately 20 people. State officials were on scene yesterday and continue to coordinate with Cohoes Officials as they continue response and recovery efforts.
"This devastating fire swept through the heart of the City of Cohoes left a number of people homeless and crippled many businesses," said Governor Cuomo. "We will continue to support this community and offer any assistance we can to help the city and its residents recover."
To assist residents and business owners, the Department of Financial Services will be dispatching a mobile response unit in the coming days to help with the insurance claim process. This unit are staffed by experts who will assist residents with navigating the claim process and help ensure they can begin to rebuild their lives as quickly as possible. The unit will be located at Remsen Street in the vicinity of the fire between at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. this evening and will remain available through the weekend during the hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Since yesterday, 10 staff from the State Offices of Emergency Management and Fire Prevention and Control, including Assistant Commissioner Pat Rivers and State Fire Administrator Francis "Skip" Nerney, were dispatched to the scene of the fire and remain in communication with Cohoes Officials. Eight State Fire investigators, two of whom are drone operators, are still on scene assisting Cohoes Police and Fire Departments with the ongoing fire investigation.
Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos responded to the fire along with Emergency Management, Spills Response, Communication and water staff. The Department closely monitored the surrounding area for impacts to the environment and to ensure drinking water sources were not impacted. Efforts were coordinated with local officials and other emergency responders and no adverse impacts to the environment were noted. Staff remain ready to assist the Cohoes community in its recovery from this devastating fire.
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