Fire causes heavy damage to Alplaus home

PHOTOGRAPHER: Erica Miller

Firefighters work to extinguish a fire that destroyed the second floor of this Alplaus home Friday afternoon.

ALPLAUS — A Friday afternoon fire destroyed the second floor of the Redwood Drive home of Scotia Police Chief Peter Frisoni.

Firefighters from the Alplaus, West Glenville, Beukendaal, East Glenville and Stratton Air National Guard fire departments all responded to the fire at 12 Redwood Drive. Mohawk Ambulance also responded.

There were no injuries reported as of Friday evening, but firefighters remained on the scene. Police said later the blaze appeared accidental, but the investigation continued.

Frisoni lives at the location with his wife and five children. For now, they will be staying with nearby relatives, officials said.

Scotia Mayor Kris Kastberg was at the scene and said he spent time there with Frisoni as firefighters worked. “I can say it looks like a total loss,” Kastberg said of the house. “He’s taking it well, but his wife and several kids also live there.”

Kastberg said he expects the Scotia community to offer support to the family. Frisoni has been police chief since 2011.

“I’m sure something will happen,” Kastberg said. “We’ve had other incidents like this where a village employee was affected by an incident like this and the community has risen up to help.”

Firefighters were called to the street for a report of smoke in the area. They arrived to find the home on fire. A neighboring home also suffered damage from heat, officials said.