Heavy Fire Destroys Multi-Million Dollar Home in Malta

By JEFFREY BELSCHWINDER, Senior Correspondent | October 17, 2021 | NEW YORK

Story No. 102621104

Photo by JEFFREY BELSCHWINDER/SIDEWINDER PHOTOGRAPHY

Photo by JEFFREY BELSCHWINDER/SIDEWINDER PHOTOGRAPHY

Photo by JEFFREY BELSCHWINDER/SIDEWINDER PHOTOGRAPHY

Photo by JEFFREY BELSCHWINDER/SIDEWINDER PHOTOGRAPHY

Photo by JEFFREY BELSCHWINDER/SIDEWINDER PHOTOGRAPHY

Photo by JEFFREY BELSCHWINDER/SIDEWINDER PHOTOGRAPHY

Photo by JEFFREY BELSCHWINDER/SIDEWINDER PHOTOGRAPHY

Photo by JEFFREY BELSCHWINDER/SIDEWINDER PHOTOGRAPHY

MALTA, NY - On October 17th, the Malta Ridge FD along with the Round Lake FD and Saratoga Springs FD for their FAST team were dispatched for a reported structure fire at 2130 Rowley Road after a neighbor reported smoke and fire coming from the home.

Car 38 called en route to the scene and was notified by the dispatcher that they were taking multiple calls for the structure fire. The first arriving chief had heavy smoke and fire pushing from the structure and requested both departments to be reactivated for manpower, along with the two Ballston Spa Fire Department’s, Eagle Matt Lee and Union No.2.

Command conducted his walk around of the residence, which was an 8,000-square-foot two-story home, with heavy fire in the main section of the building and heavy fire pushing its way through the roof in the other portion of the house.

Engine 384 arrived on scene and took the driveway. Firefighters deployed multiple hand lines to the front door of the structure while Tanker 385 parked at the end of the driveway and established the water supply for the scene. Crews had heavy fire pushing from the rear of the structure and a large open floor format style home. Firefighters made their way into the front door and began to conduct an aggressive interior attack.

Command requested Rock City Falls to the scene with one tanker. As additional firefighters arrived on scene, crews deployed a hand line to the rear the structure and firefighters used a chainsaw to cut a large portion of the window frame out, making another entranceway for easy access to the other side of the house.

Firefighters laddered the building and began to conduct roof ventilation. A hand line was also used on the roof to knock down the heavy fire condition running along the rafters. As firefighters started making progress, a large portion of the roof collapsed into the first floor. Firefighters on the other side of the structure faced the same situation. The large open format allowing easy airflow to flow through the structure made it difficult for firefighters to slow the fire spread. About one hour into the incident firefighters were able to bring the fire under control. The tanker operation on scene kept the constant flow of water for firefighters to battle the blaze.

Fire Investigators from the Saratoga County arson investigation team, along with the Saratoga County Sheriff's Department, and K-9 units from the New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control all worked together to conduct an investigation into the incident. The home, valued at over $1.6 million, was a total loss. No injuries were reported and the fire is currently still under investigation at this time. Crews remained on scene for a large portion of the evening conducting overhaul and assisting investigators.