SCHENECTADY -- A city firefighter checking to see whether flames from a Mumford Street house fire had spread to a neighboring home was sent to Ellis Hospital Thursday morning after he stepped through a ceiling.
Investigators said the cause of the fire at 515 Mumford St. appears suspicious, but they declined to speculate further.
"We don't really have any suspects," Assistant Fire Chief Michael DellaRocco said, "Though the police are following up leads."
Firefighter Phil Pelletier was working in the attic of 517 Mumford St. where he hit a weak spot in the attic floor and broke through, DellaRocco said. Pelletier was able to pull himself from the hole and get out of the building under his own power. He was treated for minor injuries at the hospital and released.
"He should be back to work in a few days," DellaRocco said.
The two-family home was gutted by the flames. The fire was reported to authorities at 3:31 a.m. Firefighters spent nearly two hours battling the flames.
Firefighters said the building was owned by Manilla Degroate, who used the property as a rental investment. DellaRocco said the two apartments were unoccupied.
Republished with permission from The Times Union
