Firefighters rescue 2 cops from NY fire

By Skip Dickstein and Bryan Fitzgerald
The Times-Union

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. — Two city police officers were pulled Wednesday afternoon from a burning apartment building on State Street.

They were taken to the hospital for treatment after firefighters removed them shortly before 1 p.m. from 1316 State St. One officer, Matt Hoy, suffered smoke inhalation and the other officer, Ryan Maloney, had a gash to his leg, Public Safety Commissioner Wayne Bennett said.

"The officers should be fine," Bennett said.

Bennett described a dramatic scene as firefighters pulled the two officers from a window and helped them down a ladder.

But Bennett said if the firefighters weren't there to rescue them, "It could have been much worse."

Police initially were called to the house after receiving a report of possible domestic violence in one of the apartments in the three-story building.

Bennett said one man, who was wanted by police, ran from the building but was apprehended. He was found at a McDonald's restaurant near McClellan Street.

A portion of State Street was closed for a time.

The fire, which was contained in under an hour, chased more than a dozen residents from the building.

Volunteers from the American Red Cross of Northeastern New York provided 11 adults and four children with temporary lodging, food and clothing.

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