A two-alarm fire at 922 Salina St. in Schenectady on Tuesday afternoon left the home’s interior heavily damaged. No one was hurt, and the family who lived there faces an estimated 18 months before it can return.
Firefighters were called to the scene around 3:21 p.m. on Oct. 20, according to WNYT. Crews found heavy fire at the rear of the building, and it took about an hour to bring the blaze under control, according to The Daily Gazette. Schenectady Firefighters Lt. James Penn and Dan Schettine were among those who fought the fire and later checked for hot spots, the Gazette reported in its follow-up coverage.
Fire officials said the rear addition sustained extensive fire damage, while the first and second floors suffered heavy smoke, water and fire damage, according to the Gazette. Mutual aid crews from Scotia and Niskayuna assisted Schenectady firefighters. The home was unoccupied when the fire broke out, and no injuries were reported.
A Long Recovery for the LaPointes
Kathy and John LaPointe are staying with their son, Matthew, while they recover from the loss of their home. Their goddaughter, Jessica Pidgeon, told The Daily Gazette that the couple may be unable to return for about a year and a half and that nothing in the home could be salvaged.
A GoFundMe for the LaPointes had raised about $4,050 as of publication. Organizers said the money would help rebuild the couple’s dream home. Pidgeon urged people to contribute, saying the family needed help and donations of any size would matter.
Cause Still Under Investigation
The Schenectady Fire Department’s Investigation Unit was investigating the fire’s origin and cause. Department officials could not be reached for an update on potential causes as of Friday, according to the report.
Assistance and another Schenectady fire
People seeking assistance after a home fire can call the American Red Cross’s Northeastern New York Chapter at 1-800-733-2767, which the chapter lists as available 24 hours a day. The organization provides this number for people seeking assistance, according to the American Red Cross. In a separate incident, NEWS10 reported that a June 2, 2026, fire at 1139 Albany St. displaced 11 people from a multi-unit home slated for demolition. That report concerns a different property and does not establish what will happen with the LaPointes’ home.
