Woman dies in city fire

Laird remembered by neighbors for her kindness

A 45-year-old woman died from a fire at her home on the 1900 block of Eighth Avenue early Thursday.

Marcy Laird was unconscious when taken out of the house by firefighters who had worked through the blaze to reach her at the back of the second floor. She was taken to UPMC Altoona, where she was pronounced dead about 2 a.m., an hour and a half after the initial alarm, according to officials.

Her husband, Tommy Laird, was working with a neighbor on his truck in back of the house when the fire started, and tried with the neighbor to get to his wife, but the fire accelerated quickly and they couldn't manage it, according to a pair of neighbors who were boarding up the house Thursday afternoon.

Two of three dogs in the house died, as did a cat, said Fire Chief Adam Free.

The house was destroyed, and a house next door was damaged, although it is repairable, Free said.

Both houses are insured, he said.

An autopsy on Laird will be conducted today, according to Blair County coroner Ray Benton.

Altoona fire inspector Justin Smithmyer, a state police fire marshal and Altoona police are investigating, Smithmyer said.

Benton doesn't plan to rule on the cause of Marcy Laird's death until after the autopsy or on the manner of death until the fire investigation is complete, he said.

Josh, one of the neighbors helping to board up the house, and Bill, another neighbor who was helping him do it, were alerted to the fire by a shout in the street, Josh said Thursday afternoon.

They came out and saw flames on the porch.

Within a minute, the whole house seemed to be on fire, they said.

Firefighters arrived about two minutes after the 12:45 a.m. alarm, which was accompanied by an alert that someone might be trapped on the second floor, Free said.

There was heavy fire on all three floors of the brick structure when the firefighters got there, Free said.

A captain entered right away through a first floor window, but was driven back by fire, he said.

Firefighters began attacking with water, which enabled a crew to get into the first floor and up the steps, while a second crew entered the second floor from the porch roof through a window, Free said.

They found Laird and got her out, and at the same time took out the one dog that survived, Free said.

Nine of the entire shift complement of 11 firefighters from four stations entered the structure, some wielding hoses, most participating in the actual rescue effort, Free said.

It was dangerous, he said.

"They gave it their all," Free said. "(It) was nothing short of heroic."

In addition to the 11 firefighters on duty when the alarm sounded, 10 off-duty firefighters were called in, Free said.

Two firefighters were injured slightly, Free said.

Both Lairds "were the nicest people," said Josh, who asked that his last name not be used.

Marcy would say hello if she was walking by, he said.

She had worked at some point for a local supermarket, according to Josh -- which was confirmed by an employee at the market.

Tommy, her husband, is a helpful individual, said Bill, who didn't give his last name.

"If you needed something hauled away or something moved, he was the dude," Bill said.

In addition to hauling scrap, Tommy works at a car repair garage nearby, they said.

Marcy was supportive of her husband's work, Josh said, and both were willing to provide anything needed by neighbors.

"They were the most pleasant people," Josh said. "They played a large part in this being a nice neighborhood."

The city's last fatal fire occurred on May 19, 2023, Free said.

One person died then, he said.

Deaths from fire in the city are obviously difficult on firefighters, although individuals handle it differently from one another, Free said, noting the department will monitor morale and provide resources if needed.

G&R Excavating and Demolition of Tyrone was working with the city and an insurance company on a possible emergency demolition, according to Glenn Ray of G&R.

Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 814-949-7038.