Spier Falls dam fire investigation continues

MOREAU, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Questions still loom about what caused a major fire at a hydroelectric plant in Saratoga County. NEWS10 is told there is little impact to the local power grid and the people we spoke to had other things on their minds.

Carrol Glansberg and Pamela King-Hall were on the Hudson Monday near Spier Falls enjoying the day, soaking up the UV rays carrying on as normal.

"It's another gorgeous day in northern New York and we’re gonna kayak," said the Ballston Spa native Glansberg. "It's pristine, I mean it's got such a history The Hudson River it's just such an amazing place to be" said Gansevoort native King-Hall.

This picturesque scene around the 1500 foot 90 foot high damn looked quite different Saturday evening when a big blaze broke out at the bottom of the six o’clock hour. 

Bright orange flames emanated from the Brookfield Spier Falls Hydro facility as ash and tar-colored smoke billowed toward the otherwise blue sky. Past dusk and into the night Saturday, fire crews hosed down the hydro facility, in an attempt to douce whatever hotspots remained. And so they did — By Monday, little evidence of what happened two nights prior remained. What’s left behind is an investigation. 

According to a Moreau town official, most of the power generated from the facility goes to Global Foundries and Finch Pruyn. National Grid today clarified it does not own or operate any power plants in upstate New York. But in a statement says…National Grid is working with first responders and Brookfield Renewable after this weekend’s fire. While no National Grid customers were impacted by the fire’s damage, our crews are working to assess and mitigate any potential impacts to our energy delivery system in the area.

The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services was also on site. That name you keep hearing — Brookfield Energy — they manage the hydro facility that’s been generating power since 1903. NEWS10 is still waiting to hear back from them regarding the latest on the fire. DHSES also tells me that state fire investigators are looking into the matter.