Man charged in setting brush fires along Albany Shaker Road

An Albany man was charged with arson for allegedly starting brush fires around Albany Shaker Road in May 2023.

COLONIE – A 25-year-old Albany man was charged with two felonies after allegedly lighting multiple fires around Albany Shaker Road in the past three weeks.

Mark A. Marcus was charged with criminal mischief and arson, as well as three misdemeanor charges.

Town police said around 12:30 a.m. Monday firefighters were called to the Albany Shaker Road and Maxwell Road traffic roundabout for a brush fire in the roundabout. Shortly after the fire, police found Marcus nearby and arrested him. Police did not say how they identified him as a suspect.

Police said the man lit at least two other fires in the area, including a May 15 brush fire that spread to the Blessed Virgin Mary of Czestochowa Church, at 250 Maxwell Road.

That fire caused extensive damage to the church's siding and roof and destroyed a shed on the property, police said.

Marcus works in the mail room of the Times Union, which is located across Old Maxwell Road from the church.

Police believe the suspect is also responsible for a May 31 brush fire on Everett Road. They believe he set the fires by lighting poplar seed pods on fire.

The billowing tree material, known as poplar fluff, is dispersed from female trees such as cottonwoods each spring. Its fuzzy design allows the seeds to catch the wind and travel far from its parent plant. But they are also highly flammable and have contributed to a recent spike in outdoor fires.

Marcus was arraigned in town criminal court and released to the supervision of Albany County Probation.

Anyone with information relevant to the investigation is asked to contact the Colonie Police Investigations Division at 518-783-2754. If you wish to report a tip anonymously, you can call Capital Region Crimestoppers at 1-833-ALB-TIPS, or go to capitalregioncrimestoppers.com