MENANDS, NY - On June 27th at 5:03 A.M., the Menands Fire Department along with mutual aid from the Watervliet Arsenal, Latham Fire Department, West Albany, Boght Fire Co. for the FAST team, and the Schuyler Heights Fire Department were dispatched for a reported structure fire at 23 Hampton Street.

The first arriving chief on scene had fire and smoke showing from the rear of the structure and transmitted the Signal 30 for a working structure fire. The chief was able to confirm that all of the occupants were out of the structure. The Watervliet Arsenal FD arrived on scene and deployed two hand lines to the front door of the house. Firefighters from the Menands FD arrived behind the arsenal's truck company along with the West Albany FD. While firefighters on the other side of the town of Colonie were dealing with a multi-car accident with multiple vehicles fully involved on the highway, the Boght Fire Co. made their way to the scene.

Firefighters entered the house where they found a heavy fire condition in the rear of the structure. During their search firefighters discovered the family's pet macaw that the family was not able to get to when evacuating the house due to the heavy fire condition. The firefighters quickly brought it outside to the fresh air.

As heavy fire blew through the roof of the building in the rear portion of the structure, firefighters immediately began to knock down the heavy fire that was rolling over their heads. Crews were able to knock down the heavy fire condition within five minutes of the initial dispatch.

Firefighters conducted extensive overhaul of the fire floor and remained on scene for over two hours while investigators conducted their investigation into the incident. No injuries were reported and the family's macaw was safe and had no injuries. The fire is currently under investigation.