Investigators are trying to determine the cause of a fatal fire in Albany that has left several families without a place to stay. It happened Monday night at 69 Grand Street, just off of Madison Avenue. One woman died, and firefighters rescued half a dozen others. As Sabina Kuriakose reports, firefighters said they faced unusual challenges in battling the flames.

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ALBANY, NY - "It's kind of devastating, because she was a nice young lady. I'd see her all the time, speak to her," recalled building manager Barry Joyner about the woman who lived next door to his building on Grand Street.

"We believe it started in the basement, went right up the stairwell, right up through the roof. So we had fire on every floor here," said Albany Fire Chief Robert Forezzi, Sr.

Firefighters faced heavy smoke and flames when they arrived at the building, which housed three apartments, including that of the landlord. Two people escaped by jumping from the back porch. As the smoke spread next door, six people, including infants, had to be rescued. Joyner said those families are refugees from Myanmar and were trying to make a new life in Albany.

"Each family probably has maybe three or more kids. A lot of kids in that building," said Joyner.

Firefighters dealt with icy conditions as they tried to contain the fire to that one building. Adding to their problems, the basement apartment filled with water gushing down from hoses, keeping firefighters from getting to the victim. The fire chief said an autopsy found the woman died from smoke inhalation. Her name is not yet being released.

"We had some unusual circumstances. The basement had filled up with water. We did have one person unaccounted for, but we had to pump that basement out before we could send firefighters in there to do a search. So, we did make an attempt as soon as the fire was knocked down, but they had to come back out because of the depth of the water in the basement," said Chief Forezzi.

Forezzi said it's too soon to tell what caused the fire, though police have said they don't think it is suspicious. For Joyner, it's a tragedy that hits close to home.

"She was a nice, fun person," he said.

The Red Cross assisted the families who've been put out of their homes. One firefighter was treated for a minor injury after he slipped and fell on the ice. Neighbors tell YNN the building was known as a trouble spot in the neighborhood, though police are not commenting on that.