'Wall Of Fire' Kills 2 UAlbany Grads Trapped In Fast

By Michael Mashburn From Daily Voice

Two University at Albany alumni have died from injuries suffered in a fast-moving house fire in Albany.

Emergency crews responded to a home in the city’s Pine Hills neighborhood, on Western Avenue near Quail Street, for a fire with several people trapped inside around 11:50 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, as Daily Voice previously reported.

Arriving firefighters found the two-story structure fully engulfed in flames that eventually spread to a neighboring home, Albany Fire officials said. Several people were trapped inside.

Four adults were pulled from the building and treated on scene by Albany Fire Department crews before being taken to Albany Medical Center.

Two of the victims, identified by UAlbany as Sahaja Udumala and Shanmukh Sarepalli, were later transferred to Westchester Medical Center’s burn unit. Both died from their injuries, officials confirmed.

Albany Police Chief Eric Hawkins described the scene as “a wall of fire up in front of the building,” saying the intensity of the blaze made the initial rescue effort extremely difficult. 

The scene of a double house fire on Western Avenue in Albany on Thursday morning, Dec. 4. 

Albany Permanent Professional Firefighters Association Local 2007

The property may need to be demolished due to the extent of the damage. It was not immediately clear what caused the fire.

Udumala, 24, earned her master’s degree in digital forensics and cybersecurity, while Sarepalli received his master’s in data science, UAlbany said in a statement.

“We mourn the loss of two members of our Great Dane community and send our condolences to their family, friends and loved ones, and everyone who has been affected by this tragic situation,” UAlbany said.

A GoFundMe campaign launched by Udumala’s relatives to assist with funeral, repatriation, and family expenses raised more than $126,000 from over 3,400 donors before closing over the weekend.

This is Albany’s second deadly house fire in two months. In October, five people were killed in a Twiller Street blaze that investigators later classified as suspicious.  Police have identified persons of interest in that case but have not released additional information.

Authorities are asking anyone with details about the Western Avenue fire to contact the Albany Police Detective Division. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through Capital Region Crime Stoppers.