MENANDS — The police and fire departments in Menands were both forced to pause operations Sunday evening after a fire broke out at the firehouse on Broadway.
Multiple passersby noticed flames and smoke coming from the first bay of the firehouse at 250 Broadway around 5:30 p.m. and called to report it, according to Menands Mayor Brian Marsh. Volunteer firefighters, some of whom live “literally steps away,” quickly responded, Marsh said.
Three firetrucks were inside the burning building when they arrived. One of them — the newest of the bunch, purchased just a few years ago — was a “total loss,” according to Marsh. Firefighters were able to drive the second truck out of the firehouse. But a third truck was trapped inside by a malfunctioning door, forcing a firefighter to drive the truck through the bay door. Marsh believes a mechanism that would’ve allowed firefighters to open the bay door had burned out…