Firefighters knock down Siems Court blaze

Volunteer firefighters from the North Bellmore Fire Department quickly extinguished an Aug. 28 house fire on Siems Court in North Bellmore.

The fire reportedly broke out at 3:17 p.m. First on the scene within four minutes, Chief Randy Meierdierks immediately called for additional units. No one was inside when firefighters arrived, according to a department spokesperson, but a male homeowner was outside.

Firefighters had the blaze under control within 25 minutes. Thirty-five volunteers worked together to squelch the blaze, with the last of them leaving the block just after 5 p.m.

The blaze left the family of five without a place to live, according to the American Red Cross of Nassau County, whose volunteers also responded to provide relief. The family was immediately given temporary shelter in a nearby motel, Red Cross volunteer Linda Cohn said.

East Meadow and North Merrick fire departments assisted North Bellmore at the scene, and the Bellmore and Wantagh fire departments provided standby coverage during that time.