A 70-year-old man has been identified as the victim of Friday’s deadly fire in Schenectady.
Around 7 p.m., a fire started at 15 Brown St. The first level of the two-family house had a lot of smoke and flames, according to responding firemen. They heard an explosion coming from within the house as they were getting ready to enter.
Wayne D. Cook, the victim, was discovered dead on the ground floor. On the second story, no one was home.
No other injuries were reported.
According to Chief Don Mareno, firefighters discovered five oxygen cylinders and one small butane cylinder, which could have caused the explosion.
Smoke asphyxiation was identified as the cause of death.
Accident is the initial reason.