Man severely burned in early morning fire
Neighbors report hearing argument before blaze reported
COHOES, N.Y. » A man was airlifted to a downstate burn unit after fire damaged his home on Van Schaick Avenue early Monday morning.
City fire Chief Joseph Fahd said a crew responded about 5:30 a.m. to 118 Van Schaick Ave., near the intersection of 3rd Street, and found the 1 1/2-story, wood-frame home heavily involved in fire. He said firefighters were able to quickly douse the blaze, however.
“The crew made a good stop,” Fahd said. “They knocked the fire down quickly.”
When they arrived, though, the chief said, firefighters found the occupant of the home on the front lawn with severe burns. The man was first taken to Samaritan Hospital in Troy, then airlifted to Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla. No additional information on the man’s condition was immediately available.
The victim was not immediately identified by officials, but Albany County property records indicate the home is owned by Steven V. Turcotte, 53, who lists the property as his home address.
Neighbors said at the scene Monday morning they had heard what they thought may have been a domestic dispute between the resident and his girlfriend just before the fire broke out. Fahd said he believed a woman was at the scene when the fire broke
out, but added that city police would be handling that part of the investigation.
Police Chief William Heflin did not return a call Monday seeking additional details, but state fire investigators joined local police and firefighters in examining the house after the fire was doused.
Fahd said that while the first floor of the home sustained heavy fire damage and the entire house had smoke and water damage, he believes the building is salvageable. A multi-family home whose back wall sits less than 15 feet from the east wall of the damaged home was largely untouched by the fire, but neighbors said they were initially concerned about a propane tank outside the larger building, though it was also unaffected.