AMSTERDAM, N.Y. - Authorities say a fire that started in a former brush-making factory in a Mohawk Valley city has spread to nearby houses and forced dozens of people from their homes.
Officials say the fire broke out around 1 a.m. Thursday at the defunct Eddie Brush Co. factory in the city of Amsterdam, 30 miles northwest of Albany. Fire Lt. John Paris says the building, which was being used to store books, has been destroyed.
He says the fire spread to two nearby homes, heavily damaging one. Paris says about two dozen other homes have been evacuated, displacing about 50 people. The Red Cross has set up a shelter at a middle school.
Paris says the blaze is under control, but firefighters remain at the scene.
He says the cause of the fire is under investigation.
No injuries have been reported.
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