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Colonie firefighters extinguished a fire that consumed buildings at a welding business on Spruce Street that spread to a neighboring home on Monday, Feb. 21, 2022.

Colonie firefighters extinguished a fire that consumed buildings at a welding business on Spruce Street that spread to a neighboring home on Monday, Feb. 21, 2022.

Firefighters remain at the scene hours after a fire tore through structures early Monday on Spruce Street in Colonie 

Colonie firefighters extinguished a fire that consumed buildings at a welding business on Spruce Street that spread to a neighboring home on Monday, Feb. 21, 2022.

COLONIE — A fire at a welding shop on Spruce Street spread to a neighboring home and several other buildings during an overnight blaze that investigators said featured several explosions.

Fuller Road Fire Chief Michael Romano said the fire began inside the shop at 20 Spruce St. and spread to a home at 18 Spruce St. The fire heavily damaged the home, engulfing the side of the building, but the people who lived there were able to get out without injury.

“Upon our arrival, we had one business — a welding repair shop — that was heavily involved along with two other garages,” Romano said.

Romano said the severity of the explosions prompted Fuller Road Fire Department to put out a call for backup. 

The fire consumed a cinder-block shop and several buildings on the property where the welding building business was based. 

Massive damage was seen across the property, though a home at the front of the land was not damaged. Charred scraps of machinery, lawn equipment and vehicles dotted the property, including a pick-up truck and several refrigerators.

Romano said initial 911 calls reported several explosions, though it was unclear if the explosion caused the fire or if fuel tanks on the property exploded after flames from the fire engulfed the containers.

One neighbor said he was alerted by a “popping noises.” 

“I opened up the blinds and there were flames 30 feet in the air,” said a neighbor, who declined to give his name. He said he was surprised no died in the early morning fire.   Authorities also had to grapple with downed power lines upon arrival. Authorities shut down power for four hours as a preventive measure, Romano said. A water main break also ripped up the pavement in front of the property. 

National Grid was working at the site later Monday morning. 

Pete DeMola is a breaking news and current trends reporter. He also covers the city of Schenectady and its suburbs. He previously reported for the Daily Gazette and Sun Community News in the Adirondacks where he won multiple awards for his investigative reporting. DeMola also spent a half-decade in Beijing where he covered pop culture for several publications and social media companies. He also worked for a record label. He's a 2005 graduate of Syracuse University. You can reach him at pete.demola@timesunion.com.