Deputy chief seriously burned at Nassau County Fire Training Center

A deputy chief  was seriously burned at the Nassau County Fire Service Academy in Old Bethpage on May 9.

According to Michael Uttaro, the Nassau County Fire Marshall, around 10:30 a.m. on May 9, the deputy chief, who works as an instructor at the academy, was setting up a training excerise called a "shipboard fire training." 

Firefighters learn how to extinguish a live fire on a prop of a ship, Uttaro explained. 

"As they were settting up to get ready for the live fire portion of that training, there was combustible liquids that were ignited, causing a flash fire," Uttaro said. "The deputy chief instructor sustained serious burns."

The fire was quickly extinguished, and the Plainview Volunteer Fire Department transported the injured instructor to the Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow, which has a 12,000-square foot burn center on its sixth floor. 

The instructor, who was not identified, was evaluated in the emergency room before he was taken to the burn center, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Grace Ting said. 

He sustained first, second and third degree burns to his hands, thighs and torso, and is expected to survive, she said. He did not suffer an smoke inhalation related injuries. 

"He's in good spirits," Uttaro said. "He's awake and alert and talking to people. His family and folks from the fire academy are here as well."

The Nassau County Fire Service Academy is utilized by volunteer fire departments across the county. The property and facility are owned by the county, but it is run by the Nassau County Vocational Education Exstension Board, also known as VEEB.

The instructor who sustained burns is an employee of VEEB. 

It is still unclear what fully led to the fire starting as quickly as it did, Uttaro said. It is under investigation by the Fire Marshal's Office. 

"The fire service academy is one of the premier fire academies in the country and it is going to evaluate the events that led up to it, and sure that protocols are put in place so that it doesn't happen again," Uttaro said.