Early Monday fire displaces five in Schenectady

PHOTOGRAPHER: Peter R. Barber

Schenectady firefighters carry a hose line to 1822 Avenue A as flames pour from a second-floor porch Monday

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SCHENECTADY — An early Monday morning fire damaged a house, but everyone inside got out safely, fire officials said.

The fire call came in just after midnight at 1822 Avenue A, second floor, Deputy Fire Chief David Orr said.

Five people escaped the apartment unharmed, Orr said. The Red Cross was assisting those residents with housing needs.

The fire damaged the front of the building and extended into the attic. The entire building suffered water damage.

Firefighters prevented the fire from spreading to a neighboring building, about two feet away from the building that caught fire, Orr said.

The cause of the fire remained under investigation later Monday.

Images: Photos from Monday morning’s fire, Jan. 21, 2019

The fire happened on a bitterly cold, windy night. Firefighters found the nearest hydrant frozen shut and had to run a water line across Seneca Street to get to a working hydrant. Niskayuna District 1 Fire Department responded and helped bring in a water supply line.

Orr was unsure if the hydrants had been dug out after the storm, but he said firefighters could see them. Fire departments say snow around hydrants should be removed to allow firefighters to better access them.

The fire happened just down the street from a home where a kitchen fire happened on Saturday night, at 1762 Avenue A. No injuries were reported in that fire, either.

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