Arson suspected in East Albany fire

ALBANY — An early Wednesday morning blaze at an East Albany duplex which dispossessed one tenant is labeled arson by fire investigators.

Fire investigator Sam Harris said firefighters responded Wednesday around 6:40 a.m. to a fire at 1317 E. Society Ave., where fire was found on both sides of the duplex. According to Harris, the fire started in the living room of apartment A which a former tenant, Sabrina Denmark, had vacated the previous week.

While Denmark wasn’t present, Harris said the smoke and flames spread to the other unit in the duplex, dispossessing tenant Johnny Williams. No one was reported injured in the blaze.

“The fire was set intentionally,” Harris said. “For what reason I don’t know. Neighbors at the scene said that as soon as Denmark moved out, they’d noticed people going in and out of the building, possibly involved with drugs or prostitution.”

Anyone with information regarding the fire on East Society Avenue is asked to notify the Albany Fire Department at (229) 431-3266.