SELDEN, NY - On February 16th at 6:20 P.M., a call to 911 activated the Selden FD for a house fire at 357 Magnolia Dr.

The first arriving chief was met with a fully engulfed house and the report of a possible occupant still within. Chief of the department, Will Cotty, was in command and activated multiple area departments for mutual aid to the scene.

Firefighters were unable to make entry into the home due to the heavy volume of fire. Crews quickly stretched hand lines and put tower ladders to work, dumping large amounts of water in an effort to knock down the fire and gain entry to search for any possible occupants.

Firefighters eventually located an 81-year-old deceased male inside the home. SCPD's arson squad and homicide detectives were called out to investigate the blaze. No other injuries were reported.