Town resident Shawn Enos was about a half-mile down the road when he heard a loud boom.
He immediately headed home to 3825 Carman Road in Guilderland to find the house that hosted his apartment and two others engulfed in flames.
While Enos said his cat, Maybell, was spared, one person was killed in the Sunday afternoon blaze. Guilderland Fire Chief Scott Jill couldn't confirm whether any other pets in the home had perished.
Firefighters arrived on the scene at 4 p.m. to a fully involved structure fire. Crews worked an exterior defensive attack to knock down the flames, but the way the structure was built and the presence of oxygen tanks in the home complicated efforts, Jill said.
"Upon arrival, the front, right-hand side and rear of the structure were fully involved in flames," he said. The fire "got into the rafters" and "one individual who lived there was on oxygen and that contributed to the situation."
Jill said the extent of the blaze and crumbling structure prevented firefighters from entering the home until the flames were knocked down. The identity of the victim is unknown at this time, he added.
No other residents were at home at the time of the fire. No fire or EMS personnel were injured.
The Guilderland fire chief confirmed that there had been a basement fire at the residence a few years back, but couldn't recall the details Sunday.
The cause of Sunday's fire is under investigation.
The town has experienced several fatal fires over the past few years, and it's always difficult, Jill said.
"It's not easy for the town, it's not easy for the first responders, but we have a tight-knit community," he said.
[email protected] • 518-454-5353 • @mandy_fries
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