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by Geoff Herbert | gherbert@syracuse.com

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Cohoes fire: Upstate NY man sparks massive blaze while imitating TV show (photos)

An Upstate New York man sparked a massive fire in Cohoes while imitating a television show.

The Times-Union reports 51-year-old John A. Gomes of Cohoes was charged with felony reckless endangerment and misdemeanor arson six hours after the blaze began Thursday -- while buildings were still burning. Officials say the fire destroyed or damaged 21 buildings, partly due to stoking from 20 to 30 mph winds.

The city, located just north of Albany, N.Y., declared a state of emergency as at least 20 residents were displaced by the fire. Several streets were shut down as three city blocks were engulfed in smoke and flames; the smoke could be seen as far away as Troy and had grown so big, it was even visible on radar.

"It is the worst disaster the city has ever seen," Mayor Shawn Morse said Thursday night.

CBS reports Gomes was apparently trying to bend metal over a barrel fire in his Remsen Street backyard, inspired by the History Channel's "Forged in Fire." The reality TV series features professional bladesmiths competing to create "history's most iconic edged weapons."

Gomes, an amateur metalsmith, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Thursday night and was jailed on $15,000 bail. The Times-Union reports a preliminary hearing is scheduled for next Tuesday.

CBS reports assistant police Chief Tom Ross called the fire unintentional, or "reckless arson."

Minor injuries were reported, but it's unclear how many. According to the Times-Union, one firefighter was taken to the hospital with unspecified injuries.

Morse estimated the blaze caused millions of dollars of damage. The former home of Claremont's Tavern collapsed; Rizzo's flower shop and Smith's tavern and restaurant were badly damaged; and the garage for Marry's Pharmacy was among three buildings leveled.

The Times-Union reports volunteers from the American Red Cross helped people displaced by the fire, offering shelter, food and clothing to 11 different families.

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Skip Dickstein | Times Union via AP

Firefighters use their hoses to wet down buildings across the street from the main fire buildings as a multi-alarm fire consumes a number of building on Remsen Street on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017, in Cohoes, N.Y. Firefighters from Cohoes, Albany, Watervliet, Green Island, Menands, North Bethlehem and other departments were battling the flames.

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Oh my God.



Ongoing Cohoes fire. Photo via Council member Steve Napier. pic.twitter.com/sGsyM5eoq7 — Chris Churchill (@chris_churchill) November 30, 2017

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Heavy flames from two building in Cohoes N.Y. @nysfirechiefs pic.twitter.com/bkfiVLiNmb — ©Skip Dickstein (@SKIPSCAM) November 30, 2017

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Fully involved structure fire in Cohoes on Remsen st saw one person taken away in ambulance pic.twitter.com/AI6X6aHtNg — Jeff Hunter (@newsjeffhh) November 30, 2017

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Smoke from a fire in Cohoes, NY is visible on the Albany, NY WSR-88D Radar. See that plume of gray and blue colors in southern Saratoga county? That's the smoke from the fire in Cohoes. pic.twitter.com/PpQLEInc4M — NWS Albany (@NWSAlbany) November 30, 2017

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kip Dickstein/Times Union via AP

Firefighters from around the region work to knock down a multi-alarm fire as as a major wind-driven blaze swept through at least a half-dozen buildings on Remsen Street on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017, in Cohoes, N.Y.

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Cohoes fire from Oakwood Cemetery in Troy. (3:30 pm) pic.twitter.com/mSMMlVhE0v — Dean (@SQLsouthpaw) December 1, 2017

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A fourth alarm has now been transmitted for a fire that’s consuming multiple buildings on Remsen ST in Cohoes. pic.twitter.com/w8ZlBGBSbH — Kevin Montano (@KevinMontano) November 30, 2017

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RAW VIDEO: Fire in #CohoesNY closes multiple roads and there is no word on injuries as of 3 p.m. pic.twitter.com/aqdcsOM1p0 — Spectrum News Albany (@SPECNewsAlbany) November 30, 2017

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Multiple buildings on fire now on Remsen Street in downtown Cohoes . pic.twitter.com/1cyf40FX5B — Nick Buonanno (@NickBuonanno) November 30, 2017

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Huge fire in #Cohoes .. a number of buildings engulfed. We have crews there .. we'll keep you updated and live reports starting at 4 @WNYT pic.twitter.com/C7MnsemwS8 — Benita Zahn (@BenitaZahn) November 30, 2017

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Crews from Saratoga County have responded to the fire in the city of Cohoes. pic.twitter.com/LGjDyKtYuM — Saratoga County OES (@SaratogaOES) November 30, 2017

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Students who normally walk home from the nearby Abram Lansing Elementary School in #Cohoes are being kept at the school so they won't have to walk near the scene of the raging fire. #CohoesFire pic.twitter.com/gkNaqAVh2k — WNYT NewsChannel 13 (@WNYT) November 30, 2017

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Cohoes Fire pic.twitter.com/edLTxMCCsB — Lori Van Buren (@curleypic) November 30, 2017

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A fire stoked by 20 to 30 mph winds has destroyed three buildings and damaged 21 more in Cohoes, and is still sweeping through the city. About 20 people have been made homeless and the mayor has declared a state of emergency. Read the latest here: https://t.co/atL4zoC5PZ pic.twitter.com/xAz7J0DaSe — Times Union (@timesunion) December 1, 2017

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Massive fire hits Remsen Street in Cohoes. Several buildings destroyed, over a dozen more damaged pic.twitter.com/O5Q4nItMiz — TALK 1300/98.7 NEWS (@TALK1300NEWS) December 1, 2017

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#breaking several fire companies are battling a massive fire on Remsen Street in Cohoes right now. pic.twitter.com/Iag0LQqtI9 — Jackson Wang (@TVJacksonWang) November 30, 2017

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Several departments are fighting this #Cohoes fire. Multiple roads are closed. pic.twitter.com/h1WnIRPGGH — Jaclyn Cangro (@JaclynCangro) November 30, 2017

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There's so much smoke in Cohoes it's difficult to determine how many buildings are still burning. pic.twitter.com/XsS0ggwUk1 — Dan Levy (@dlevywnyt) November 30, 2017

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Cohoes fire chief just told us "things are winding down" after today's massive fire on Remsen Street pic.twitter.com/Lxb3gHNzzb — Greg Floyd (@CBS6Greg) December 1, 2017

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Skip Dickstein/The Albany Times Union via AP

Firefighters from around the region work to control a multi-structure fire on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017 in Cohoes, N.Y.

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#breaking 51 year old John Gomes has been arraigned in city court in four degree arson and first degree reckless endangerment in connection to today's Cohoes massive fire. pic.twitter.com/Z12NHwg1qE — Jackson Wang (@TVJacksonWang) December 1, 2017

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Cohoes NY fire department still wetting down hot spots at Remsen St #fire. State of Emergency declared by City. @nysfirechiefs @NYSPFFA pic.twitter.com/v4jTSQJYV2 — ©Skip Dickstein (@SKIPSCAM) December 1, 2017

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Just spoke with Cohoes Fire Chief. He was injured by amber in the air while battling the flames, you can bandage on his face. pic.twitter.com/MNBojvOCnI — Andrew Banas (@AndrewWHAM) November 30, 2017

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51 year old John Gomes of 228 Remsen Street Cohoes charged with arson for starting fire that damaged 20 buildings. pic.twitter.com/y9XOCs0Gms — Dan Levy (@dlevywnyt) December 1, 2017

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The #Cohoes fire is said to have started in the rear of a building near 228 Remsen St., where the defendant John Gomes lives. Read more: https://t.co/jl0Qb7w0oP pic.twitter.com/ZRfCDFCFXW — Times Union (@timesunion) December 1, 2017

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Lori Van Buren/The Albany Times Union via AP

Firefighters from around the region work to control a multi-structure fire on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017 in Cohoes, N.Y. The blaze broke out Thursday afternoon in downtown Cohoes, just north of Albany, and was stoked by 20 to 30 mph winds. Three buildings were destroyed, 18 others were damaged and at least 20 people were displaced.