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A message from Albany Housing Authority Executive Director, Chiquita D’Arbeau

An unfortunate event occurred on Wednesday at approximately 6:37 p.m., when a fire broke out in an apartment on the 12th floor of 45 Central Avenue.

We are profoundly grateful that the building’s sprinkler system activated as designed, allowing the fire to be quickly contained to a single apartment. The affected resident was transported to the hospital for evaluation.

This truly was a team effort; organizations coming together to support our residents and make the best of a difficult situation. Our staff quickly put emergency protocols in place and stayed on site to ensure everyone’s safety and comfort while repairs were made.

We deeply appreciate the patience and cooperation of all residents over the past few days. Temporary housing was arranged for those whose homes were affected by water damage, and we’re happy to share that families are expected to return home later today. 

The Albany Housing Authority extends our heartfelt thanks to the American Red Cross and our hospitality partners for providing meals to residents during this challenging time. The Housing Authority was proud to cover the cost of some of the meals to help ensure everyone was cared for. We are especially grateful to the hospitality team for their kindness, respect, and wonderful service to both residents and staff.

We extend our sincere appreciation to our team and emergency responders for their swift and professional actions. The Albany Housing Authority would also like to thank Mayor Sheehan and the City of Albany, National Grid and CDTA for their immediate response and ongoing efforts.