E.M. Fire Department aids hurricane victims

East Meadow residents delivered hundreds of items to the department's disaster relief drive.

Courtesy East Meadow Fire Department

The department began a disaster relief drive on Sunday morning to collect items for the victims of Hurricane Sandy.

Courtesy East Meadow Fire Department

One firefighter was treated for minor injuries, said assistant chief Walter Griffin.

Bill Kelly/Herald

The East Meadow Fire Department extinguished a fire on Pattinson Street on Sunday night. Nobody was significantly injured in the fire.

Courtesy East Meadow Fire Department

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Nobody has been busier in East Meadow since the arrival of Hurricane Sandy than the East Meadow Fire Department.

Commissioner Scott Farber told the Herald that the department has been working around the clock for the past week. “We responded to a tremendous amounts of calls for downed wires, trees and house fires,” he said.

The department opened its emergency operation center prior to the storm, which was in constant communication with the Nassau County’s Office of Emergency Management.

To prepare for Sandy, Farber said the department topped off all its truck’s tanks with fuel, and also purchased extra chainsaws and gas generators.

On Sunday night, the department responded to a house fire on Pattinson Street. Upon arrival at the home, assistant chief Walter Griffin said fire was coming from the left side and the rear of the house, including the attached garage. All of the house’s occupants safely evacuated prior to the fire department’s arrival. “With the heavy volume of fire showing on our arrival and post storm-conditions of our streets and neighborhood, we’re fortunate the situation wasn’t much worse,” said Griffin. “Our units had no problems responding and our members did an excellent job knocking down the initial fire.”

One firefighter was treated at the scene for minor injuries.

Presently, Farber said the department is receiving calls for carbon monoxide poisoning and power surges. He advised residents to keep electrical appliances unplugged until power is restored, and also advised homeowners to keep their generators situated outside their homes.

To aid hurricane victims, the department is holding an ongoing disaster relief drive at its headquarters, located on 197 East Meadow Avenue. After receiving a surplus of clothing, Farber said the department is mainly seeking items such as water bottles, non-perishable food, toiletries, baby formula and diapers.