North Amityville fire
On Thursday, July 15, 2010, the North Amityville Fire Co. was alerted for a reported kitchen fire on Benburb Street. First on scene was 1st Asst. Chief Lay, who advised Babylon Central to re-tone the alarm as a working fire. Heavy smoke was pushing from the house as First Due Engine 1-7-1 picked up a hydrant just before the fire building and stretched a line to the front door. Mutual aid was requested from the Amityville Fire Dept. for an Engine and Ambulance to the scene. Once on scene, the crew from Engine 1-1-4 stretched a second line off of 1-7-1. The East Farmingdale Fire Co. was called for RIT, but was put to work as a Truck Company and searched and vented the house. The North Lindenhurst Fire Dept. was brought in for RIT and an additional ambulance. The fire was contained to the kitchen area and knocked down about 15 minutes with no reported injuries. All the occupants were out prior to the fire department’s arrival. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Fire News photos by Paul Mazza
Battling Brush and 100-Degree Heat in East Northport
The East Northport Fire Department responded to a major brush fire at 1252 hours on Wednesday, July 7, at the former Town of Huntington landfill off Townline Road and Old Northport Road, adjacent to the Covanta Energy - Huntington Resource Recovery plant. The fire involved 15-20 acres of brush including areas of the LILCO and Iroquois Pipeline Right-of-Ways.
Three challenges faced during operations were exposure issues to nearby private dwellings, Methane gas from the landfill fueling the fire, and the brutal 100-degree temperatures and high humidity that firefighters encountered. Firefighters from 12 departments were on the scene battling the blaze for four hours with about 100 firefighters and 20 pieces of apparatus, under the command of Chief John McCoy.
The following departments assisted at the scene and on standby with engines, stump-jumpers, brush trucks, a tanker, rehab unit, and relief crews: Commack, Kings Park, Northport, Greenlawn, Deer Park, North Babylon, Nissequogue, Hauppauge, Smithtown, Brentwood, and Eaton’s Neck FD’s, and Commack Ambulance. Due to several other major brush fires at the time including one in Cold Spring Harbor that stretched resources, mutual aid was requested from three other townships. In addition, assistance was provided by Suffolk FRES Fire Coordinators, Suffolk Police, Town of Huntington, and Covanta Energy,
According to Chief McCoy, “Suffolk Police Aviation provided command with an aerial perspective of the fireground which enabled us to determine where the potential for spread was the greatest.” Despite some residents self-evacuating their homes out of concern for their own safety, there was no damage reported to any civilian residences.
During the course of operations, a North Babylon firefighter suffered burns and was airlifted to the burn center at Stony Brook University Medical Center, where he was released the following day.
“I am very proud of our Suffolk County volunteers. They are always willing to give 110% to any department in need of assistance and will not quit until the job is done,” said Chief McCoy. “It is extremely reassuring to know that help is only a phone call away. In addition – for a weekday incident, the mutual aid response times were outstanding!” concluded Chief McCoy.
Text by Steve Silverman
Photos by Mike Gunther and Andy Brofman
Hidden Ridge Fire
On July 9, 2010, the Syosset FD was alerted for multiple houses on fire inside the Hidden Ridge condo complex and receiving numerous calls on it. Arriving crews found a small brush and deck fire behind one of the units. Syosset fire fighters overhauled several boards of the deck and took up.
Fire News photos by Kevin Imm
Farmingville Fire
On Tuesday, July 27, 2010, the Farmingville Fire Department responded to a report of a fire at a hair salon on Horseblock Road. Upon arrival, firefighters found smoke showing from the roof of the location as well as some of the adjoining stores. Arriving crews stretched lines and made entry into the building and quickly knocked down the fire. Holtsville was requested to the scene as the RIT team.
Fire News photos by Bob Sorensen
SMITHTOWN BARN FIRE
The Smithtown Fire Department was toned out for a signal for a Reported Residential Fire at 1212 hours on Friday, July 30, on Hallock Avenue. The call was quickly upgraded to a signal for a Working Barn Fire. Upon arrival units were confronted with a fully involved barn fire located in the rear of the residence. Due to the nature of the blaze the fire was attacked from exterior exposures only. On the farm premises were three horses, two ponies, two goats, and a miniature donkey. All livestock were in turnout paddocks when the fire began. No injury or loss of life to livestock occurred during the fire. Initial reports indicated a person might be trapped inside the barn. This proved to be erroneous. On scene were Chiefs Duffy, Sisino, and Murphy. Apparatus and manpower were provided by Engines 4-2-1, 4-2-2, 4-2-4, 4-2-5, and ladder 4-2-7. Mutual aid was provided by the Nesconset, Hauppauge, Kings Park, and St. James Fire Departments.
Fire News photos by Jeff Bressler
Attic Fire Destroys Home in Setauket
Firefighters from the Setauket fire department were called out to a working fire on Secatogue Lane on August 14, 2010, at approximately 1715 hours. Upon arrival, firefighters found a well-advanced conflagration burning in the attic space above the garage. Firefighters entered the home and advanced to the second floor, only to find high heat conditions that forced them to back out and set up for an exterior attack. Once the flames were knocked down, firefighters reentered the structure and resumed an interior attack on the fire. With the help of the Selden Fire Department, the Terryville Fire Department, the Port Jefferson Fire Department, and the Saint James Fire Department, the fire was brought under control without incident. Suffolk County Fire Coordinator 5-0-1 and the Brookhaven Town Fire Marshal responded to the call. The fire is under investigation at this time.
-Fire News photos by Dennis Whittam
