Scotia house burns, forcing school to evacuate

PHOTOGRAPHER: Justin Mason

An afternoon fire has caused significant damage to a two-family home at the intersection of Sacandaga Road and Second Street.

The fire was reported just after 2:30 p.m., with the first responding Scotia firefighters reporting flames visible from the exterior of the building. Firefighters were pulled from the building about a half-hour after responding, and the roof and back porch collapsed shortly after.

The neighboring Schenectady Christian School was evacuated as firefighters tried to control the blaze from outside.

John Pedersen was the only one of five residents of the home who was there when the fire broke out. He said he was watching television and heard crackling sounds from the back porch.

“I opened the door, and the back porch was already up,” Pedersen said as he sat on a curb with his roommate, who was at work when the fire broke out.

No injuries have been reported. Firefighters from the Beukendaal, Thomas Corners, Glenville Hills, Alplaus and the Stratton Air National Guard Base companies were called in to assist.

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