COLONIE, NY - On April 1, 2025, at 2:32 PM, the Stanford Heights Fire Department, Niskayuna Fire District No.2, Colonie Village Fire Company for the FAST, Carman Fire Department, and Colonie EMS were dispatched for a structure fire at 44 Fox Avenue. The dispatcher was taking multiple calls stating that the house was fully-involved. The Stanford Heights fire station acknowledged the call and stated that they had a column of smoke showing from their station. The Verdoy Fire Department was dispatched to the scene for an additional truck company. As the fire departments were responding to the scene, two citizens that discovered the fire were pounding on the door of the house to make sure all of the residents were out. They learned shortly afterwards that there was no one inside of the home.

The first chief arrived on scene with heavy fire showing in the rear of the structure and heavy smoke showing from the eaves, and command transmitted the Signal 30 for a working fire. Firefighters on the first due engine company deployed a one-and-three-quarter-inch hand line to the rear of the building, with another crew quickly arriving behind the first due engine, making the push into the front door. The North Bethlehem Fire Department was dispatched to the scene with the rehab team. Firefighters inside the building made their way to the first-floor, conducted a rapid search of the house and made sure that no one was inside. Firefighters on the exterior portion of the structure notified command that the attic was heavily charged with smoke. Truck 11 arrived on scene and took the front lawn of the home. Firefighters quickly dismounted from the rig. Following right behind them was Truck 10 and firefighters went to work laddering the front of the structure and getting roof ladders in place to start venting. Heavy fire blew through the soffits on both sides of the home.

Firefighters in the rear of the building notified command that they had an additional outbuilding on fire due to the radiant heat from the structure. The heavy wind on scene did not help firefighters. Car 16 notified command that the conditions were rapidly changing and recommended crews to back down to the first-floor as heavy fire had engulfed the attic area above them and conditions in the rear of the structure were changing. Firefighters on the second-floor from Engine 406 notified the chief that they were backing down to the first-floor, as they did not have any visible fire, but heavy smoke. Additional crews made their way inside of the structure to meet up with Engine 406’s firefighters with an additional hand line and tools.

As firefighters were working, the hydrant on the other end of the street had to be shut down due to a malfunction and was quickly corrected, allowing for the fire scene to reestablish a water supply. Firefighters on the roof conducted a coordinated ventilation with the crews inside the house. As firefighters on the roof cut the vent hole, heavy fire blew out of the roof and the attic. Firefighters made their way to the second-floor, opened up the ceilings and quickly knocked down the heavy fire condition. Command requested Fuller Road Fire Department to the scene to help exhausted crews from the fire. As soon as the firefighters knocked down the heavy fire in the attic area and firefighters began to pull apart the fire in the knee wall, conditions inside of the structure became favorable. Firefighters on the exterior portion of the structure utilized a hand line and knocked down the remaining portion of the fire.

Within 30 minutes, firefighters had the entire incident under control. Over 40 firefighters on scene assisted with bringing the incident under control. Firefighters conducted extensive overhaul on scene for an extended period of time. Fire Investigators on scene conducted their investigation into what caused the fire. At this time, no information has been released on the cause of the fire. No injuries were reported and firefighters went back into service later in the early evening hours.